Dec 22 2023 36 mins
In his latest book, Armed Citizens: The Road from Ancient Rome to the Second Amendment, Dr. Noah Shusterman posits how the question isn't the existence of the right to bear arms, but rather, about determining the specific individuals or groups entitled to bear arms. With host JJ, Dr. Shusterman details how, during the American Revolution, Americans needed to, and did, depict their conflict as a battle between civilians and trained soldiers. As such, the framers of the Constitution placed their confidence in citizen soldiers and a "well-regulated militia," a concept that endures in contemporary times (though often erroneously understood). If you've ever wondered "how can I combine the Roman Empire and conversations about gun violence," this is a podcast episode you won't want to miss.
Further reading:
A Well Regulated Right: The Early American Origins of Gun Control (Fordham Law Review)
The Supreme Court Gets a 'Well Regulated Militia' Wrong (Time Magazine)
What Do Guns Mean to Far-Right Extremists? (the Trace)
Citizen Militias in the U.S. Are Moving toward More Violent Extremism (Scientific American)
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Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.
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Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
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