“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.” U.S. Const. amend. II. The Second Amendment is perhaps the most hotly debated provision of the Constitution. Whether focus is placed on the word “regulated,” “Militia,” “bear,” or “infringed,” interpretation of its plain language can yield a broad array of results. Because of this, there is a patchwork of regulations across states governing who may possess arms, what type, and in what locations.

The federal government imposes few firearms restrictions aside from those that regulate their sale or prohibit those found guilty of certain criminal conduct from purchasing or possessing firearms. It is one of the Commerce Clause restrictions that brings us today’s split.