Amendment+2+(3)

The Second Amendment Second Amendment- A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. State Law- The Second Amendment states that you are allowed to carry a firearm. However the Second Amendment has restrictions to it. Setting restrictions on firearms is a State Power. The states can determine the types of weapons allowed in that particular state. Types of weapons range from shotguns and handguns to semi- and automatic rifles. Most states prevent citizens from carrying Machine Guns, High Powered Rifles, Semi- and Automatic Rifles, and Explosive weapons. Federal Law- The Federal law created several bans on assault rifles and high powered handguns, most of them were not passed however in 1994 there was ban preventing people from carrying assault rifles, the ban was lifted in 2004. Although the Second Amendment states that you are allowed to carry a firearm, you are not allowed to bring a firearm into pubic buildings such as schools, stores, movie theaters, ect. Definition of a legal firearm- The definition of a legal firearm is a pistol or revolver with a barrel less than 15 inches, and shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches, and rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches, or any pistol, revolver, shotgun, or rifle with an overall length of less than 26 inches. Licenses- Anyone who sells a firearm must have proper gun selling license, unless the weapon is an antique gun such as a civil war pistol or rifle. No license is required to have a gun in a rifle, handgun, or shotgun in your home or place of business. However a license is required to carry the rifle, shotgun, handgun, on your person. You must be an American citizen to purchase a weapon unless there are extenuating circumstances. Current Debates In 2008 there was a case debating whether carrying hand guns are legal, this case is the case of District of Columbia v. Heller. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution