Includes bibliographical references (page xxix) and index.
A brief introduction to firearms and their regulation -- Antecedents of the Second Amendment -- The colonies and the revolution -- The new constitution -- The right to arms, militias, and slavery in the early republic and antebellum periods -- Reconstruction and beyond -- A new and dangerous century -- Between Miller and Heller : the Second Amendment in the modern era -- The Supreme Court affirms an individual right to arms -- Firearms policy and status : race, gender, age, disability, and sexual orientation -- Applying the affirmed right to arms -- Social science -- International law -- Comparative law -- In-depth explanation of firearms and ammunition