The Second Amendment provides: “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” This sentence has been the subject of intense dispute among constitutional scholars, lawyers and the American public. Does the Amendment protect an individual right to have guns for private purposes? What is the significance of the first clause of the Amendment? What was the historical context surrounding the enactment of the Amendment? What does this debate tell us about the proper role of history, text and current circumstances in constitutional interpretation more generally?

Panelists included:

• Moderator, Paul Butler, Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School (Windows Media)
• David Gossett, Mayer Brown LLP (Windows Media)
• Dennis Henigan, Director of the Legal Action Project, Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence (Windows Media)
• Mark Tushnet, Professor of Law, Harvard Law School (Windows Media)
• Adam Winkler, Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law (Windows Media)

Introduction to the panel's speakers: (Windows Media)
Q&A Discussion: (Windows Media)