Citation

Bernstein CZ, Hsiao T, Palumbo M. Public Aff. Q. 2015; 29(4): 345-363.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Philosophy Documentation Center, Bowling Green State University)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

The moral right to keep and bear arms is entailed by the moral right of self-defense. We argue that the ownership and use of firearms is a reasonable means of exercising these rights. Given their defensive value, there is a strong presumption in favor of enacting civil rights to keep and bear arms ranging from handguns to "assault" rifles. Thus states are morally obliged as a matter of justice to recognize basic liberties for firearm ownership and usage. Throughout this paper, we build upon the work of other philosophers who have, in recent years, argued in favor of gun rights.

Although we believe the criminological evidence supports our case, our argument is primarily non-consequentialist. We do, how-ever, address consequentialist objections...

Language: en