The Mythic Meanings of the Second Amendment
Taming Political Violence in a Constitutional Republic
David C. Williams(Author)
Yale University Press
Published on 11. January 2003
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-0-300-09562-3 (ISBN)
Description
The Second Amendment, which concerns the right of the people to keep and bear arms, has been the subject of great debate for decades. Does it protect an individual's right to arms or only the right of the states to maintain militias? In this work David Williams offers a reading of the Second Amendment: that it guarantees to individuals a right to arms only insofar as they are part of a united and consensual people, so that their uprising can be a unified revolution rather than a civil war. Williams argues that the Second Amendment has been based on myths about America: the Framers' belief in American unity and modern interpreters' belief in American distrust and disunity. Neither of these myths, however, will adequately curb political violence. Williams suggests that the amendment should serve not as a rule of law but as a cultural ideal that promotes American unity on the use of political violence and celebrates their diversity in other areas of life.
Reviews / Votes
"This book is well written and provocative. I read it with interest and pleasure." Scot Powe, The University of Texas at AustinMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Illustrations
bibliog references
Dimensions
Height: 242 mm
Width: 164 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
710 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-300-09562-3 (9780300095623)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

David C. Williams
The Mythic Meanings of the Second Amendment
Taming Political Violence in a Constitutional Republic
E-Book
10/2008
1st Edition
Yale University Press
€96.95
Available for download
Person
David C. Williams is John S. Hastings Professor of Law, Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington.