Armed in America

A History of Gun Rights from Colonial Militias to Concealed Carry

De: Patrick J. Charles

Narrado por: Timothy Andrés Pabon

This accessible legal history describes the way in which the right to bear arms was interpreted throughout most of American history and shows that today's gun-rights advocates have drastically departed from the long-held interpretation of the Second Amendment.

This illuminating study traces the transformation of the right to arms from its inception in English and colonial American law to today's impassioned gun-control debate. As historian and legal scholar Patrick J. Charles shows, what the right to arms means to Americans, as well as what it legally protects, has changed drastically since its first appearance in the 1689 Declaration of Rights.

Armed in America explores how and why the right to arms transformed at different points in history. The right was initially meant to serve as a parliamentary right of resistance, yet by the ratification of the Second Amendment in 1791 the right had become indispensably intertwined with civic republicanism. As the United States progressed into the 19th century the right continued to change - this time away from civic republicanism and towards the individual-right understanding that is known today, albeit with the important caveat that the right could be severely restricted by the government's police power.

Throughout the 20th century this understanding of the right remained the predominant view. But working behind the scenes was the beginnings of the gun-rights movement - a movement that was started in the early 20th century through the collective efforts of sporting magazine editors and was eventually commandeered by the National Rifle Association to become the gun-rights movement known today.

Listeners looking to sort through the shrill rhetoric surrounding the current gun debate and arrive at an informed understanding of the legal and historical development of the right to arms will find this book to be an invaluable resource.

©2018 Patrick J. Charles (P)2018 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Well researched work/thinly veiled propaganda

Wonderfully detailed and researched, the author's disingenuous "historical" position gives way to his liberal agenda.

Good book to start a conversation with an Anti-2A

I highly disagree with the author on some things, and believe that he isn't as well versed in the history as he might think.
Henry II, just after John I (Robin Hood Fame) was a tyrant. His son decreed EVERY Englishman be Armed to Keep the Peace. No matter his station, Noble or Commoner, he had to have some sort of weapon.
Sir William Blackstone Commentaries On English Law.
Volume 1: On The Rights Of The People.
Chapter 13: On Maritime And Military Law.
Edward I made it Law.
Blackstone went so far as to say that Disarming a population is the same as enslaving them.
Volume 2: Of The Rights Of Things.
Chapter 27: Of Prerogatives And Forfeiture.

Malinterpretation of the 2nd amendment

Narration: baritone voice is pleasant, speech rate is just right, clearly enunciated and properly pronounced. Excellent narration.

Content: credible, thoroughly research based indictment of tortured understanding of second amendment, which has resulted in intolerably lax gun uncontrol laws.

Methodology: beautifully illustrates legal scholars approach to understanding f this vexing problem.

waste of time

This book is the work of a liberal lawyer/historian who is obviously bent on connecting the 2nd amendment to the English concept of the militia controlled by the government, although well written and narrated it is biased in the liberal direction, we must remember anything can be used or excluded for the purpose of proving a point when you are a lawyer

liberalism

wish I would have read the reviews smh, listen to the whole thing and yes anti 2a