The Second Amendment is that part of the 10 amendments to the American Constitution also known as the Bill of Rights. This amendment to the Constitution has always fueled the debate over gun control legislation and the individual right to bear arms. Before the Constitution, colonial Americans were British subjects and were believed to have the right to bear arms in order to defend themselves and their property. Subsequently, after the War of Independence and the drafting of the Constitution, the Second Amendment was explicitly introduced into the Constitution. The Second Amendment stated that “the people have the right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the state” (“The History of Gun Rights in America: A Timeline of the 2nd Amendment,” 2018). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayDuring the time of the American Revolutionary War, many people believed that governments used soldiers and their army to oppress the people and for all other purposes militias were used. But when war broke out due to insufficient militias, the conventional constitution gave the power to raise a new army. People feared that Congress would abuse its power and might use it to oppress the people ("The Second Amendment - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com", 2018). After the ratification of the United States Constitution, James Madison proposed this amendment to empower the state militia. The Second Amendment was ratified in 1791, after James Madison's proposed amendment that the newly developed state needed a well-regulated militia and for the safety of the people they should have the right to bear arms. The amendment was made on the basis of the trust of the armed people by the government. Furthermore, by doing this Madison believed that people would not fear their government as they did the British Crown since the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of people to be armed (“Second Amendment | Law Library of Congress,” 2018). , there were several cases in the US Supreme Court related to the Second Amendment such as Bliss v. Commonwealth (1822), Dred Scott v. Sandford (1856), and many others. These rulings were based on concrete scenarios and supported people's right to bear arms. But with the increase in laws passed by Congress, it was now necessary to have a licensing requirement for both the buyer and the seller (“Second Amendment | Law Library of Congress,” 2018). To date, secondary legislation is still applicable in America, although some laws passed by Congress have been introduced. These acts include the Share Act and the Background Check Completion Act. Both of these laws were passed in 2017 (“The History of Gun Rights in America: A Timeline of the 2nd Amendment,” 2018). Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get Custom EssayThese laws passed by Congress aim to expand access to public land to reduce restrictions on the purchase of gun silencers and to allow gun sales based on comprehensive background checks. The gun debate in America has always centered on the Second Amendment. There are people who support the Second Amendment and believe that the Founding Fathers ratified it for the purpose of guaranteeing individual rights. However, other naysayers say otherwise. But the mass shooting events of the last 2 to 3 years require more rigorous background checks.