Episode 46. America’s Rifle: The Case for the AR-15 by Stephen P. Halbrook

 

Show Notes:

 

Episode 46. America’s Rifle: The Case for the AR-15 by Stephen P. Halbrook

 

Alex Ooley is joined by Stephen Halbrook to discuss his book, America’s Rifle: The Case for the AR-15.

 

Stephen P. Halbrook is a Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute. He has taught legal and political philosophy at George Mason University, Howard University, and Tuskegee Institute, and he received his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center and Ph.D. in social philosophy from Florida State University.

 

The winner of three cases before the U.S. Supreme Court (Printz v. United States, United States v. Thompson/Center Arms Company, and Castillo v. United States), he has testified before the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, Subcommittee on Crime of the House Judiciary Committee, Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, and House Committee on the District of Columbia.

 

Summary
In this episode of the Forge of Freedom podcast, host Alex Ooley interviews Stephen Halbrook about his book ‘America’s Rifle:  The Case for the AR-15.’ The conversation covers various topics related to the Second Amendment and the AR-15, including the history and philosophy behind the right to keep and bear arms, the arbitrary classification of firearms as ‘assault weapons,’ the criminal misuse of firearms, and the Supreme Court’s acceptance of the Rahimi case. Halbrook provides a comprehensive overview of the book and makes a compelling case for the AR-15 as America’s rifle.
Takeaways
  • The Second Amendment is an individual right that is rooted in the history and philosophy of self-defense and protection against tyranny.
  • The term ‘assault weapon’ is a made-up term that has been used to demonize firearms like the AR-15, which are commonly possessed and used for lawful purposes.
  • Criminal misuse of firearms should not dictate the rights of law-abiding citizens, and gun control measures often disarm the innocent while criminals find ways to obtain firearms.
  • The Supreme Court’s acceptance of the Rahimi case raises concerns about potential limitations on Second Amendment rights, but it also presents an opportunity for the Court to clarify the scope of the right to keep and bear arms.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Book Overview
02:45 Inspiration for Writing the Book
06:19 The Term ‘Assault Weapon’
11:26 The Philosophical Underpinnings of the Second Amendment
15:21 Arms in Common Use and the AR-15
23:19 Criminal Misuse of Firearms and the Rights of Law-Abiding Citizens
29:17 The Supreme Court and the Rahimi Case
32:54 Closing Remarks and Elevator Pitch for the Book

 

 

Resources:

 

America’s Rifle: The Case for the AR-15 by Stephen P. Halbrook

https://stephenhalbrook.com/books/americas-rifle/

 

The Volokh Conspiracy at Reason.com

https://reason.com/search/halbrook/

 

Amazon link to America’s Rifle: The Case for the AR-15 by Stephen P. Halbrook

https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Rifle-Stephen-P-Halbrook/dp/1637586809?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=oggl-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=658e5bfd94edefad7d161e007581a183&camp=1789&creative=9325

 

Independent Institute

https://www.independent.org/aboutus/person_detail.asp?id=517

 

Stephen Halbrook – Resume`

https://stephenhalbrook.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Resume-Halbrook.pdf

 

Federalist Society

https://fedsoc.org/contributors/stephen-halbrook

 

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Halbrook

 

 

DISCLAIMER:  This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, medical, or financial advice. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organizations or individuals they may mention. The hosts and guests are not liable for any damages that may result from someone listening to this podcast.

 

 

 

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