The Second Amendment Primer

A Citizen's Guidebook to the History, Sources, and Authorities for the Constitutional Guarantee of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

By: Les Adams

Narrated by: Kevin Henderson

A simple guide to understanding your Second Amendment freedoms.

So much of the debate about the Second Amendment is in scholarly journals and academic papers written by scholars and judges, or directed towards other scholars, law professors, attorneys, and judges. Trying to wade through the extensive footnotes and references to legal cases and historical precedents known only to the academic elite is more than enough to make anyone feel hopeless.

With The Second Amendment Primer, Les Adams finally provides an accessible discussion of the Second Amendment. It is a “primer” because it is elementary. Chronologically arranged, it traces the development of the right to keep and bear arms from its birth in ancient Greece to its addition in the U.S. Constitution. Supplemental essays discuss the Second Amendment’s interpretation in today’s world from the viewpoints of both firearms enthusiasts as well as those who would limit the amendment’s purview.

Although The Second Amendment Primer is aimed at the average reader, Adams’s facts are detailed and well-documented. Reference margin notes, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive subject index showcase the author’s research and show more curious readers how to continue on their path to understanding exactly what the Second Amendment is saying. Using this “citizen’s guide” as a stepping stone, anyone can become a successful scholar of the right to bear arms.

©1996, 2013 Les Adams (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

A Slightly Dated, but Reasonable Summary of the Gun Rights View

This book would be a good companion for a book from the gun control view, such as "Loaded" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, and a moderate view, such as "A Well-Regulated Militia" by Saul Cornell.

If reading that many books is too much a challenge, the book "Gunfight" by Adam Winkler covers does a good job of covering both sides of the gun policy debate in a single, entertaining, and informative volume.

Since I know that many will wish to ask, I personally lean towards a middle way where gun regulation in the interest of public safety is allowed, but cannot disarm the populous overall and should be revoked or automatically expire if they do not result in a measurable benefit to public safety.

Very Informative

Thank you for this Primer it was very informative. The research on gun rights in America and common law practice is very interesting. The specific words chosen should mean a lot in today's American society especially when we go by the letter of the law.

information every Citizen needs and should have!

I loved the historical reference to the rights to bear arms and the reason behind the thinking the founding fathers had for making the second amendment to the Constitution, further more the more current standing of the amendment in current times

Simply Great!

You will learn the roots and history of our Second Amendment Rights, as you've probably never heard before!

Nra sponsored

The nra being tied to this made it hard to listen to. As a gun owner the nra is a threat to my rights.
As soon as it got past that part the information was fantastic and put together nicely.