美國憲法第二修正案

美國憲法第二修正案（英語：Second Amendment to the United States Constitution）是美国权利法案前十條修正案之一，並於1791年12月15日正式通過，它保障人民持有和攜帶武器的權利，亦即公民享有正當防衛的公民權利。

歷史

第一批乘坐「五月花號」到達北美大陸的歐洲移民正是依靠槍械等武器才得以在這片土地上落地生根，在猛獸和印第安人的包圍中，武器成為每個人安身立命的工具。此後，北美十三州逐漸成形，因為沒有常備的政府軍，各州都依靠民兵進行自我防衛，州政府也逐漸介入到武器管理中，部分州政府甚至會對沒有武器的居民進行處罰。隨著獨立戰爭的打響，民兵的影響力進一步擴大，正是這些擁有武器的平民和英軍作戰8年，並成功贏得獨立戰爭。建國後，當1789年美國憲法的「權利法案」由國會議員提出時，「持有和攜帶武器」的權利被自然而然的寫入其中，並於1791年被批准正式生效。為了限制強勢的專制政府，防止政府權力膨脹進而侵犯公民權力，賦予公民反抗的武器，也是這條法案重要內在精神，俗謂「天授槍權」。

內容

“ 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. ”

• 译文：紀律良好的民兵隊伍，對於一個自由國家的安全實屬必要；故人民持有和攜帶武器的權利，不得予以侵犯

美國憲法第二修正案手寫複本，裁切自1789年美国权利法案

時任美国国务卿的托马斯·杰斐逊認可的內容如下，與原文相比，字句相同但是斷句與部分文字大小寫不同：

“ 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. ”

法院裁決

在2008年及2010年，美國聯邦最高法院分別做成了兩個與本修正案有關的指標性判決。在哥倫比亞特區訴黑勒案（District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008)）中，聯邦最高法院判決認為，第二修正案保障個人擁有槍枝的權利，不論該人是否屬於民兵皆然。並且可以基於合法的目的使用該等武器，諸如在屋內自我防衛。在麥克唐納訴芝加哥案（McDonald v. Chicago, 561 U.S. 3025 (2010)）中，法院判決第二修正案不僅拘束聯邦政府，對於州政府和地方政府同樣具有拘束力。

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參見

• 槍械
• 槍械管制
• 美國槍支政策
• 美国全国步枪协会
• 正當防衛