Understanding your Second Amendment rights is the first step in protecting them. Here's everything you need to know.
Your Second Amendment rights don't disappear when you leave your house. Here's what you need to know about exercising those rights responsibly and legally.
You have the right to bear arms while exercising your First Amendment right to assemble and petition the government. However, state and local laws vary significantly.
Lawful gun carriers have rights during police encounters, but these situations require extra caution and clear communication.
Concealed carry laws vary by state, but all permit holders have fundamental rights and responsibilities when carrying.
Your right to keep and bear arms is strongest in your home, but you still have responsibilities under the law.
Welcome to the community. Gun ownership is both a right and a responsibility. Here's what you need to know to start your journey safely and legally.
1. Get Proper Training: Before you do anything else, get professional training. This isn't optional — it's essential for your safety and the safety of others.
2. Understand the Law: Gun laws vary significantly by state and locality. What's legal in Texas might be a felony in California. Know your local laws before you buy.
3. Choose the Right Firearm: Don't buy the first gun you see. Consider your intended use (home defense, concealed carry, sport), your physical capabilities, and your living situation.
4. Plan for Safe Storage: You need a plan for securing your firearms before you bring them home. This protects your family and helps prevent theft.
Myth: "Guns are too dangerous for regular people to own safely."
Reality: With proper training and responsible practices, firearms can be owned safely by law-abiding citizens. Millions of Americans do so every day.
Myth: "You need to be a gun expert to own firearms."
Reality: You need basic competency and ongoing education, but you don't need to be an expert. Start with the fundamentals and build your knowledge over time.
Myth: "Gun owners are all the same politically."
Reality: Gun owners come from all political backgrounds, professions, and demographics. The Second Amendment belongs to all Americans.
You have the same Second Amendment rights as someone who's owned guns for decades. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise or make you feel unwelcome in gun stores, ranges, or the broader firearms community. Ask questions, seek education, and demand respectful treatment.
The Second Amendment belongs to everyone. These organizations represent the full diversity of American gun owners — inclusive spaces for people of every background.
Pro-Second Amendment voice for left-of-center gun owners. CMP-affiliated with education programs and community events.
Visit →Working-class gun rights organization focused on community defense, firearms education, and mutual aid.
Visit →National African American Gun Association. 45,000+ members, 75+ chapters. Training, education, and community.
Visit →LGBTQ gun rights org with 45+ chapters dedicated to safe, legal, and responsible firearm use for self-defense.
Visit →Connects LGBTQ people with 1,500+ queer-friendly volunteer firearm educators across the country.
Find an Instructor →Coalition promoting 2A rights, self-defense education, and community empowerment in Black communities.
Visit →Non-profit with chapters nationwide providing safe, supportive firearms training exclusively for women.
Find a Chapter →291,000+ member Reddit community for gun ownership through a liberal and leftist lens. Active discussion and support.
Join the Discussion →Civil rights organization advancing gun rights through strategic litigation and legal action nationwide.
Visit →Legal action and education promoting understanding of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
Visit →No-compromise legislative advocacy and legal challenges defending Second Amendment rights in Congress.
Visit →Professional training is essential for responsible gun ownership. These resources will help you find quality instruction in your area.
Basic pistol, rifle, and shotgun courses covering safety, operation, and marksmanship fundamentals.
Find Courses →State-specific training for concealed carry permits, including legal requirements and practical skills.
Find Classes →Federally chartered program promoting firearms safety, marksmanship training, competitions, and youth programs.
Find Programs →Non-profit with chapters nationwide providing safe, supportive firearms training for women.
Find a Chapter →Understanding use of force laws, when you can legally use a firearm, and avoiding legal trouble.
Learn More →Free gun locks and safe storage education. The nation's most comprehensive firearm safety program.
Get Free Locks →Know the law. Track the law. Change the law. These resources help you understand your rights and stay informed about legislation that affects them.
Authoritative legal analysis of 2A text, history, and every major Supreme Court interpretation.
Read Analysis →Interactive map showing which states honor your concealed carry permit and state-specific gun laws.
Check Your State →US Law Shield's state-by-state guide to firearm and self-defense laws. Know before you carry.
Find Your State →Comprehensive guides covering your rights at protests, during police encounters, and beyond.
Learn Your Rights →Official federal firearms laws, licensing requirements, and regulatory guidance from the ATF.
View Regulations →24/7 attorney access for gun owners after self-defense incidents. Legal defense membership.
Learn More →Track all federal firearms-related legislation in real time with status updates and voting records.
Track Bills →Official source for full text, status, sponsors, and voting records on all federal legislation.
Search Bills →Track state and federal legislation across all 50 states with custom alerts and monitoring tools.
Start Tracking →Annual state-by-state gun law grades and rankings. See how your state stacks up on policy.
View Scorecard →Data-driven comparison of gun policy across all 50 states with effectiveness analysis.
View Rankings →Free gun locks and safe storage education. 41M+ locks distributed through 15,000 law enforcement partners.
Get Free Locks →Call or text 988 for immediate crisis support, including firearm-related safety planning.
Get Help Now →Evidence-based interventions and resources for preventing firearm suicide through safer storage.
Learn More →Understanding the legal evolution of Second Amendment rights helps contextualize current debates and future challenges.
"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."
Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects only weapons with "some reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia."
Established federal licensing requirements for gun dealers and prohibited certain categories of people from purchasing firearms.
Mandated federal background checks on firearm purchasers and established a waiting period for handgun purchases.
Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms, unconnected with service in a militia.
Supreme Court extended the Heller decision to apply to state and local governments, not just federal restrictions.
Supreme Court struck down New York's restrictive concealed carry licensing scheme, establishing stronger protections for carrying firearms outside the home.
Federal shooting of legal gun owner at Minneapolis protest sparks national debate about Second Amendment protections during First Amendment activities.
The Second Amendment exists within the broader framework of constitutional rights. Here's the text and context that guides our work.
The Second Amendment was adopted as part of the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These amendments were specifically designed to protect individual rights from government overreach.
Individual Right (Heller, 2008): The Supreme Court definitively ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.
Applies to States (McDonald, 2010): The Court extended Second Amendment protections to state and local governments, not just federal restrictions.
Public Carry (Bruen, 2022): The Court strengthened protections for carrying firearms outside the home, requiring that restrictions be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation.
Our organization's name comes from the Constitution's Preamble, which lists "provide for the common defence" as one of the federal government's core purposes. We believe defending constitutional rights — including the Second Amendment — is part of that common defense.
First Amendment: The right to peaceable assembly and petition government is closely related to Second Amendment rights, as the Alex Pretti case demonstrates.
Fourth Amendment: Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures applies to firearms and affects how law enforcement can interact with legal gun owners.
Fourteenth Amendment: Equal protection clause ensures that constitutional rights apply equally to all citizens, regardless of political beliefs or demographics.