My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

Infringe: The History of a Word and The Gun Debate

03.30.2023 - By Bruce CarlsonPlay

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What's in a word? Lots, maybe, when its a key word in the most contentious debate in America. The word "infringe" determines the threshold of how the Constitution should be enforced. But do we understand the word, and if we do, are we applying it correctly in our political debates over guns and politics? In this cast we look at how framers like Washington, Madison, Hamilton and Jefferson used the word, and how it's applied in DC v. Heller and US v. Miller. We contrast infringe to its Constitutional cousin abridge, and we look at what the NRA asserts about the 2nd amendment's words, including the word infringe.

We also look at the current New York carry law Supreme Court case and where the Court is likely to go, and look at guns and politics in general.

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