Rich Neel dives into the roots of the Second Amendment, highlighting the pivotal figures who ensured its inclusion in the Bill of Rights. He identifies George Mason, James Madison, and Patrick Henry as key proponents who understood the necessity of a constitutional guarantee for citizens to bear arms. Drawing from historical documents, including the Virginia Declaration of Rights and England’s own Bill of Rights, these founders crafted a uniquely American provision—one designed to protect against both foreign threats and domestic tyranny.

Neel points out that the context for the Second Amendment was shaped by the colonists' recent experiences with oppressive governments and their reliance on militias for protection. “There was always a concern,” Neel states, “that if government got out of hand, the people would be helpless without some kind of guaranteed right.” He suggests that these fears were not just theoretical; they were grounded in the reality of the era, with battles fought not only against foreign powers but also to maintain a balance of power within the fledgling nation. This section sets the stage for understanding how deeply embedded the right to bear arms is in the American psyche, and why it was seen as an essential component of the nation’s founding principles.