In 1791, the U.S. Congress ratified the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights. The Second Amendment states, "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." With those words, the Founding Fathers laid the groundwork for a political and social touchstone that is still controversial after more than 200 years. Today, arguments over the true meaning and intention of the Second Amendment play out across our nation. With this book, readers go beyond the sensational headlines to explore the origins of the Second Amendment, both in a historical and contemporary context.