U.S. Constitution News
The Daily Signal provides reporting and analysis on the U.S. Constitution, including court rulings, separation of powers, and the defense of individual rights.
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- Opinion
11 Cases of Defensive Gun Use as 2020 Came to a Close
The world has said “good riddance” to 2020 and ushered in a new year. Although 2020 was a year in which many people faced extraordinary challenges, it did come with a silver lining for advocates of a strong Second Amendment right—unprecedented growth in the number of Americans who embrace their right to keep and bear…Amy Swearer -
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84 Lawmakers Stand Up for Allowing Their Own Guns at Capitol
A new congresswoman from Colorado, Rep. Lauren Boebert, has rallied 83 other representatives to counter an effort by Democratic legislators to prohibit politicians from carrying firearms in and around the Capitol. Boebert, a vocal supporter of gun rights, rallied lawmakers to oppose a measure by Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., to prohibit carrying a gun throughout…Jake Dima -
- News
Pressured by Lawmakers, ATF Withdraws Gun Regulation Opposed by Manufacturers
Under pressure from dozens of congressmen, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives withdrew guidance on a proposed regulation that gun industry leaders warned would cost them billions. The ATF’s decision to pull its regulation regarding pistol braces follows a cooperative effort from 90 House members who demanded that the agency cease its “alarming” determination that…Jake Dima -
- Opinion
11 Cases of Defensive Gun Use That Show How Biden’s Key Picks Miss the Mark
Joe Biden has begun naming his picks for top political positions in a Biden administration, and it is already evident that many of them are not fans of Americans’ Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. For example, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra—Biden’s choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services—has spent the…Amy Swearer -
- Opinion
Crackdown on ‘Gendered Language’ Does Not Bode Well for Free Speech
The mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler, announced on Twitter just after his reelection that the City Council approved a removal of “gendered language”—meaning feminine and masculine terms—from the city charter, according to the The Daily Caller. OPB, a local news source, said Portland will remove the terms “he or she,” “his or her,” and “himself…Nicole Russell -
- Opinion
11 Defensive Uses of Guns That Reveal Ignorance of Biden, Harris on Second Amendment
While votes still are being counted in the presidential election, one thing is perfectly clear—the stakes never have been higher for the Second Amendment. Neither Democratic nominee Joe Biden nor his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, believe that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms. In other words,…Courtney Baer -
- Opinion
Beheading in France by Islamist Requires Fierce Pushback for Free Speech
Earlier this month in France, a teacher who reportedly showed caricatures of the Islamic prophet Muhammad during a civics class was beheaded by an 18-year-old Chechen refugee, who subsequently was fatally shot by police. The teacher, Samuel Paty, was beheaded on the street by Abdoullakh Anzorov. police said. Robin Simcox, director of The Counter Extremism…Rachel del Guidice -
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Man Who Bought Firearms Used in San Bernardino Terrorist Attack Gets 20 Years
A California man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring to commit terror attacks and for providing assault rifles used in the 2015 attack in San Bernardino, California, that left 14 dead, the Department of Justice announced. Enrique Marquez Jr., 28, pleaded guilty in 2017 to conspiring to provide material support and…Kaylee Greenlee -
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Free Speech Won at Colleges in California and Ohio. It Should Win in Georgia, Too.
As Free Speech Week concludes, Americans nationwide are reminded that public university campuses provide a unique environment for students to engage in the marketplace of ideas while pursuing higher education. Sadly, however, many public officials have forgotten their own role in encouraging free speech on campus, and some colleges have even received a free pass after violating…Ellen Wittman -
- Opinion
These 12 Incidents of Defensive Gun Use Underscore Importance of a Justice Barrett
The Supreme Court has spent over a decade quietly acquiescing to gun control advocates at the expense of the Second Amendment. Commentators on both sides of the aisle, however, believe that may change soon. If Judge Amy Coney Barrett—President Donald Trump’s nominee to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg—is confirmed to the Supreme…Amy Swearer -
- Opinion
The Fight for Free Speech
The violence, looting, and mayhem that this nation has seen over the last several months has much of its roots in academia, where leftist faculty teach immature young people all manner of nonsense that contradicts commonsense and the principles of liberty. Chief among their lessons is a need to attack free speech in the form…Walter E. Williams -
- Opinion
How Trump Impeachment ‘Knocked Gun Control in the Head’
A little-noticed casualty of Democrats’ impeachment push against President Donald Trump last year was gun control, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., says. In an interview for my book “Abuse of Power: Inside the Three-Year Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump,” Massie noted that the president was ready to pull the trigger on a federal law allowing orders…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
These 10 Examples of Defensive Gun Use Underscore Second Amendment’s True Purpose
In announcing the launch of “Sportsmen and Sportswomen for Biden,” the former vice president’s campaign demonstrated earlier this month how many gun control advocates misconstrue the purpose of the Second Amendment. The coalition of “50 prominent hunters and anglers” stated that Joe Biden would “protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans to purchase and…Amy Swearer -
- Opinion
As American Gun Sales Hit Record High, Tips for New Owners
Americans are buying guns at a record pace. A surprising number of the sales are from first-time firearm owners, says Stephen Gutowski, a reporter at The Washington Free Beacon and a certified National Rifle Association instructor. Gutowski joins the podcast to explain some of the reasons for the spike in gun sales and to offer…Virginia Allen -
- Opinion
Defensive Uses of Guns in July Prove Importance of Removing Barriers to Ownership
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently blamed her city’s acute surge in gun violence on the lack of gun control laws in other states. As many commentators have pointed out, her assertions are factually incorrect to the point of absurdity. Meanwhile, several Illinois residents are suing the state over significant—and arguably illegal—delays in processing Firearm Owner…Amy Swearer -
- News
White House Weighs Bill in Response to Big Tech on Free Speech
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows says the Trump administration is contemplating some type of regulation for social media companies as part of the COVID-19 relief legislation being negotiated with Congress. “As much as I’m a guy that says that the social media companies should be able to have their own—what I would call…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
The Chicago Gun Myth
The tragically incompetent mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” last weekend to deflect attention from the horror show unfolding in her city by blaming interlopers for its spiking murder rate: “We are being inundated with guns from states that have virtually no gun control, no background checks, no ban…David Harsanyi -
- News
Prosecutor Criticized for Charging St. Louis Couple Who Pointed Guns at Protesters
A Missouri prosecutor faces heavy scrutiny at the national and state level for bringing criminal charges against a St. Louis couple who pointed guns at trespassers in late June to defend themselves and their property. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner filed the charges against Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who became nationally known because…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
11 Incidents in Which Lawful Gun Owners Made a Difference
As the Supreme Court continued its decadelong silence in protecting the Second Amendment, Americans last month nevertheless proved that they understand the importance of the right to keep and bear arms. The FBI conducted a record-high 3.9 million background checks for firearms sales and transfers in June. The previous record of 3.7 million was set…Amy Swearer -
- News
GOP Lawmakers Urge Attorney General to Defend St. Louis Couple’s Gun Rights After Firearm Confiscation
GOP lawmakers wrote a letter to Attorney General William Barr Friday, urging the protection of the firearm rights of the St. Louis couple that saw their guns confiscated after they went viral for defending their home against demonstrators, according to reports. Mark and Patricia McCloskey were seen in a video brandishing a M16A2-style rifle and small…Jake Dima