Rethinking the Second Amendment




We The People Podcasts show

Summary: The National Constitution Center presents a timely conversation with legal scholars Joyce Lee Malcolm and David A. Strauss about one of the most important and controversial cases before the Supreme Court in the 2010 term: the Chicago gun-rights case. At issue in McDonald v. Chicago is whether the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental constitutional privilege -- like freedom of speech, press and religion – that can be invoked by individuals against the actions of state and local governments as well as the federal government. As the briefs start coming to the Court for the case, a battle is brewing over the so-called "incorporation doctrine," which has applied most, but not all, guarantees of the federal Bill of Rights to state and local governments. The program is moderated by Lyle Denniston. Program recorded on 5/5/10. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org