Bridging Blocks | Gun Rights, Realities, Risks, and Responsibility

The earliest known firearm, the fire lance, was invented in China in the 10th century, while gunpowder itself dates back to around 850 C.E. Firearms have been part of human society for more than a thousand years and remain deeply embedded in military institutions and many civilian cultures around the world.

The Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights states that “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.” In simpler terms, this is the constitutional basis for the right to gun ownership, as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Countries such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and Australia have enacted significant gun control laws. What makes the United States the exception? What risks and responsibilities come with the Second Amendment? Is the current system the most effective, or should we consider alternatives?

This is a facilitated community conversation in which attendees will engage directly with one another in a moderated setting. Rather than a lecture or presentation, the program is designed to encourage dialogue, the exchange of perspectives and shared learning among participants.

Join WHYY News Community & Engagement team for Bridging Blocks, a civic dialogue series in partnership with The Free Library of Philadelphia.

Host - Tony Cuffie Senior Manager Community & Engagement, WHYY News

Moderator - Brisa Luzzi Castro Community Convener, WHYY News

Bridging Blocks, a partnership between The Free Library of Philadelphia and WHYY, is made possible by a generous grant from Fred and Barbara Sutherland