To Keep and Bear Arms: The Origins of an Anglo-American Right

To Keep and Bear Arms traces the evolution of gun rights in England from the Middle Ages through the American Revolution, examining how English law and custom shaped the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Malcolm analyzes primary sources including legal documents, personal correspondence, and parliamentary records to reconstruct this history. The book documents key developments in English weapon laws and practices, including the 1689 English Bill of Rights and its provision regarding Protestant arms-bearing. It explores the connections between English concepts of armed citizenry and self-defense and their later American interpretations. Malcolm examines how changing political, social and technological circumstances in England influenced attitudes toward private weapon ownership over several centuries. The research covers both legal frameworks and cultural practices around arms-bearing in English society. The work reveals complex relationships between individual rights, collective security, and state power that continue to resonate in modern debates about gun ownership and regulation. This historical analysis provides context for understanding how English precedents influenced American constitutional thinking about armed citizens.

Readers value Malcolm's detailed historical research and primary source documentation tracing the evolution of gun rights in England and colonial America. Multiple reviewers note the book provides context missing from other Second Amendment scholarship. Positive reviews focus on: - Clear writing style that makes legal history accessible - Thorough examination of English common law sources - Documentation of how American colonists interpreted British gun rights Critical reviews mention: - Some claims about English law are disputed by other historians - Limited coverage of American constitutional debates - Narrow focus on English/colonial period vs broader historical scope Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (52 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (46 ratings) A law professor reviewer on Amazon notes: "Malcolm meticulously reconstructs the legal and political history behind the right to arms." A critical review in Constitutional Commentary argues she "overstates the individual rights interpretation of English law." Most readers recommend it as a focused examination of British influences on American gun rights, while acknowledging ongoing scholarly debates about some conclusions.

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🔷 The author, Joyce Lee Malcolm, is a professor at George Mason University School of Law and has testified before Congress as an expert on gun control and constitutional law. 🔷 The book was cited in the landmark Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), which established an individual right to bear arms under the Second Amendment. 🔷 Malcolm traces the right to bear arms back to the 1689 English Bill of Rights, showing how this British law directly influenced America's Second Amendment. 🔷 The research reveals that 17th-century English laws required Protestant citizens to keep arms in their homes, both for personal defense and to support the militia if needed. 🔷 The book challenges the common belief that the Second Amendment was primarily about maintaining militias, arguing instead that personal self-defense was equally important to both British and American lawmakers.