Capstone: The Armed Citizen?

Catalog description

What is the role of firearms in a constitutional democracy? Do guns pose a threat in the form of violence and death, prevent tyranny, or secure rights? Can guns be restricted to protect against domestic abuse or suicide? This seminar interrogates (1) the meaning of the Second Amendment in the context of the creation of the Constitution and current controversies over the relationship between firearms and violence in the U.S. (2) the interpretations of the U.S. Supreme Court in their most recent decisions and (3) the theoretical issues raised by guns in a constitutional democracy (including Stand Your Ground laws). The course demands reading primary and secondary texts in political theory, public law, and history.