Bill of Rights

History of the Second Amendment: Complete Timeline From 1328 to Today

By Riley Bowman / July 3, 2026

I went looking for one article that covered the complete history of the Second Amendment—from English common law to Bruen—and couldn’t find one. So I built it. Every major case, law, and turning point, in one place.

Episode 135: The History of Self-Defense

By Riley Bowman / July 3, 2017

Today Riley invites Dr. Steve Adams onto the podcast to talk about the history of self-defense. What sort of rights did people have during the Dark Ages and up through Colonial America while still under the rule of King George III? What important role did John Locke and other great philosophers play in shaping the thoughts and ideologies of our Founding Fathers? Was the 2nd Amendment just a convenient idea that made it into the Bill of Rights? Or did it serve a greater and much more intentional purpose? Riley and Dr. Adams break it all down and discuss the influences behind the 2nd Amendment and the right to self-defense. We hope this episode is enjoyable and especially relevant for you on Independence Day!