Georgia Southern University Digital Commons@Georgia Southern Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of Spring 2011 Necessary to the Security of a Free State: Federalism and the Original Meaning of the Second Amendment Douglas H. Walker Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd Recommended Citation Walker, Douglas H., "Necessary to the Security of a Free State: Federalism and the Original Meaning of the Second Amendment" (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 598. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/598 This thesis (open access) is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of at Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. NECCESARY TO THE SECURITY OF A FREE STATE: FEDERALISM AND THE ORIGINAL MEANING OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT by DOUGLAS H. WALKER (Under the Direction of Johnathan O‘Neill) ABSTRACT Interpretations of the Second Amendment‘s original meaning encompass two extremes: an ―individual rights‖ interpretation which argues that it protects each person‘s right to own and use weapons for any non-criminal purpose; and a ―collective rights‖ interpretation which asserts that it protects only the states‘ right to maintain a National Guard force. Both positions cater to contemporary political agendas, display excessive presentism, lack lucid historical analysis, and ignore federalism and its bearing on the Second Amendment‘s original meaning. This thesis uncovers the ideological and historical origins of the right to keep and bear arms and interprets the original meaning of the Second Amendment in the context of the ratification debates and the Bill of Rights.