Welsh+Period+4+Amendment+2

By:Alexa, Kate, William, and Jin
 * __The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution__**

__Essential Question__:


 * How did the issues which prompted the creation of your amendment** **compare with the issues they are applied to today?[[image:http://www.infowars.net/pictures/april2007/190407second.jpg align="right"]]**


 * The 2nd amendment was ratified in 12/8/1791.
 * The amendment was proposed because at the time the Revolutionary War was occurring.
 * No one knows who proposed the amendment but James Madison proposed the bill of rights.


 * When was this amendment ratified?**

The second amendment was ratified on December 15, 1791.


 * What issues encouraged the creation of our amendment?**

When this amendment was created in the 1790's, attitudes toward the military was different from today.Back then, attacks were not out of the ordinary, so this amendment was highly favored. Today, this amendment is more important to the people who own guns, with a permit, for protection. Militias aren't used today, however, there are National Guards in every state that are trained and armed by the government. Basically, Congress' goal was to make our country as safe as possible.


 * Who** **Proposed this amendment?[[image:http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/10470000/10474577.jpg width="171" height="181"]]http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/10470000/10474577.jpg****

The amendment was proposed on September 25, 1789. No one knows who proposed the amendment because there's no proof, but it is said that James Madison proposed the Bill of Rights.


 * What are some conflicts that could arise today without this amendment?**

If this amendment was taken away by Congress, people would most likely go against the law and own guns illegally. Even though this is currently happening, the amount of crimes will increase. Without this amendment, the country will not be as protected or prepared for an attack, such as September 11. There would be a lot of debate over individual rights to gun ownership because even with a permit, it would be illegal for them to purchase a gun. The U.S. could become a very unsafe country. http://www.maxsell.com/images/products/thumbs/435chp-set.jpg**
 * Why are some people against this amendment?**

Some of our country believes that if our Constitution says that it is alright to have a gun, people of our country will abuse the right. Many fear with all the problems going on, for example September 11, 2001, will keep happening and that the children are in danger. They want the right outlawed and gone. Also, they fear having guns around the house is not safe and if they are not locked up properly, kids will find and use them unsupervised and accidentally injure or kill themselves or others around them. The people that are against this amendment were furious when President Bush was elected because he is for the right to bear arms. The second amendment is a two hundred year old document and many believe it should be revised or put into new words because it has brought up so much debate. A big issue that caused so many people to go against this amendment was that about 2,800 criminals with misdemeanor convictions got away with buying guns between 1998 and 2001. When they were purchasing the guns, they were not checked by the National Instant Criminal Background check system.


 * How old do you have to be to bear arms (own a gun)?**

To own a gun you must be at least seventeen and have a permit that says you own the gun**. Is there a limit to how many guns you can own?**

No, there is no limit to how many guns you can own. This law does differ throughout states. It is different in Texas than Wisconsin. In Texas you are given the right to walk around with a gun. Many people are debating whether the average person should be allowed to own a hand gun and if the age limit for ownership of a hand gun should be moved up to the age of 21.

No, you do not need a certain type of permit if you are working for a service that requires a gun. The permit depends on the type of gun. You cannot take part in this service if you have committed misdemeanor crime in the past.
 * If you are working for a service that requires a gun, do you need a certain type of permit?**
 * Do different states have different laws about guns?**

The second amendment has not been applied to the states by the Supreme Court. A state can be as restrictive or nonrestrictive as they want for rules involving ownership of firearms.


 * What types of guns can an average person own?**

An average person is allowed to own any type of gun as long as they have a permit for it and haven't committed any misdemeanor crimes in the past. Average people that have purchased guns should have them locked up safely and only use them in an emergency, to protect yourself.

__**Current Events**__

By: William 12/17/08  __ Washington Council Enacts Tough Gun –Control Measure __ By: Michael Falcone This article is about the reaction to the end of the old gun ban in DC. The old ban was in Dc for 32 years then the Supreme Court over ruled it 5 to 4.The new gun ordinance passed by City Council says that gun owners need to go through safety training and register your gun every 3 years. Also the will have to have a criminal background check every 6 years. Councilman Phil Mendelson called the bill a “very significant piece of legislation that barrows best practices from other states”. But there are some people that don’t like this bill because they think that it makes it harder to for law-abiding citizens to access this freedom.


 * By:** Kate
 * Date:**September 23, 2008
 * Title:**__N.Y.C Buys New Security for Virginia Gun Shop, Ends Suit__
 * By:** David B. Caruso

This article is about New York City's decision to pay for an improved security camera system in a gun store in Virginia. The city is also going to pay for a computer system for the Bob Moates Sport Shop in Midlothian, Virginia that can tell whether a person purchasing a gun is trying to buy a gun that has previously used a gun in committing a crime. To help find fake ID's, the store also has decided to buy its own equipment. Reasons for all of these improvements to the stores were that New York City sued them in 2006. Mayor Michael Bloomberg believed the stores in Virginia and 27 other gun shops in 5 states were not checking to see if gun purchasers were criminals properly. Some stores had their sales supervised by a court for three years and others closed down. Links: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=5871241

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_2nd.html

http://campusprogress.org/fieldreport/3483/should-domestic-violence-abusers-own-guns By: JIN March 9, 2007 Title:__Appeals Court Says Gun Ban Violates 2nd Amendment__ by: Adam Liptak

This article is about a federal that appeals court in washington struck down on the second amendment grounds a gun control law in the District of Columbia that bar residents from keeping handguns in thier homes. The court relied on a constituinal interpretation that has been rejected by nine federal appeals courts around the nation. This case was brought by Dick heller, a police officer in the district who was permitted to carry a gun on duty and wanted to keep one at home. His aplication was denied.

By: Alexa November 13, 2007 Title: __Case Touches a 2nd Amendment Nerve__ By: Linda Greenhouse

This article is about a court case that was wanted to be heard by the Supreme Court in Washington. The case was a "carefully watched battle", says Greenhouse. Two men were wanting to know about the District of Columbia's strit gun-control law. The big question they are trying to answer is wheather or not the Constitution protects the right to own a gun is an individaual right. What this means is if you are allowed to own a gun if you re not in war services or a hunter or have the gun to protect yourself if you own a public store. If the answer to the question is yes then, what will happen is that a court that will be held in March would then decide ifb all hand guns or other weapons must be under lock and key at all times when not in use. It is a hard case because it has been nearly 70 years since the court has even brought this up. The District of Columbia was called to the Supreme Court in September of 2007.