The Christian Science Monitor is daring readers to test their knowledge of the Second Amendment. There’s more than a hint of condescending anti-gun satire to the quiz but it’s a generally worthwhile exercise. Careful! Question 8 is deliberately poorly worded to lead you to choose the wrong answer. Question 10 (“Does the Second Amendment guarantee a personal right to own assault rifles, machine guns, and perhaps even shoulder-fired missiles?”) is just bullshit, as is 11 (re: high-capacity magazines). Question 12 is full of win. The test itself is a super-clunky Google-click-maximizing format that is tedious as hell. But it’s always good to see gun rights getting a broader audience. Oh, and name all the guns in the pic.

26 COMMENTS

  1. I saw no bias in those questions.

    Question 10 is a perfectly good question with a perfectly sensible answer. In Heller the court said that their decision should not be taken to allow possession of such weapons, but they did not make a definitive ruling on that at this time.

    Question 8 is exactly correct. That Miller died and no one spoke for him probably worked against the interests of gun rights, but the court decided to hear the case anyway and their ruling was that sawed off shot guns could be regulated since no evidence was presented to show that such a weapon had a military purpose. I’m still surprised that no one went back to court to present the evidence for the military use of shotguns in the trenches in WWI.

    • The trench gun was a reality but like many cases evidence found later is not evidence in the case at all.
      Question 10 is a ringer only because the definition of assault rifle is not clearly defined. Assault is a verb not a noun in this case since it’s based on the potential not the outcome.

    • “Question 10 is a perfectly good question with a perfectly sensible answer. In Heller the court said that their decision should not be taken to allow possession of such weapons, but they did not make a definitive ruling on that at this time. ”

      You’re conflating the assurances of the second amendment with the decisions of the current court, which decided not to legislate from the bench by restricting its judgment to the matter immediately at hand: Handguns in DC and later, in Chicago.

      Furthermore, if we look at the MILLER decision, we find that the court stipulated that the second amendment applies to all types of firearms that are “in common military use” and thus must therefore be of use to the militia. By THIS logic, since the standard issue rifle in the United States Armed Forces is the M16, then the second amendment applies to machineguns.

      It seems to me that they are trying to have it have their cake and eat it too: they want to use the Miller decision to prop up the antiquated NFA process while simultaneously insisting that the Hughes Amendment doesn’t directly violate the interpretation of the Second Amendment as given in the Miller decision.

  2. The way I read some of the questions, they seem worded to tell the anti-gun crowd that, “This doesn’t mean what you think it means.”

  3. The quiz was easy for those who follow the issues, but clearly was intended to educate those who do not. I think it was a positive. Many of the absurd (wrong) answers probably eased the minds of some slightly anti people or those worried about all the changes in recent law. I had to think about the Bonnie & Clyde v. St. Valentines Day Massacre question for a good thirty seconds, actually.

  4. US v Miller was bull**** and anyone with a modicum of common sense knows it ought to have been thrown out long ago.

    • U.S. vs Miller was indeed a travesty of justice, but your comment seems to display a lack of understanding of how our “justice” system works.

  5. Interesting quiz, I now know why the 1934 firearms act was passed. Always a good day when I learn something new.

    • Because instead of punishing criminals, the government punished law abiding citizens as usual?

  6. Question 10 doesn’t have a right or wrong answer. It’s a matter of opinion until the Courts and possibly our politicians decide otherwise. Even their answer isn’t phrased as an absolute.

    • Actually, since they insist on citing the Miller decision, the correct answer is “YES, although the current court has decided not to touch the issue with a ten foot pole.”

      Given that the standard issue rifle of the United States Armed Forces is the M16 family of rifles (machineguns all), then it stands to reason that they are in “common military use” and are therefore, by the “logic” of the Miller decision, firearms which the congress is specifically prohibited by the second amendment from acting against.

      • Yup. By thier own statements I should legally be allowed to own a SBR full auto M4 as it is in common military use.

    • Agreed. They mention the Miller decision, and then later on want to have their cake and eat it too.

  7. I wanted this answer to be correct: “That every American adult acquire a Colt pistol and be able to ventilate a soup can at 25 yards.” 😀

    I found it odd that the question about whether the 2A guaranteed the right to “assault” weapons, and shoulder fired missiles…. the correct answer was “probably not.” Between grade school through my doctorate, I don’t think there was ever a correct answer to a test question that included the word, “probably.”

  8. 1. The States in the U.S.A. should put on the the A.T.F.Watch list too. To see if those GunDealers Retailers Store front GunStores tried to sell those Crime Guns in there Gun Stores too. (01)(02) N.F.A. (09) to. With black stamp on his or her class-3 F.F.L. license is option License too. Do you agree? Sir?or Mam?.P.S . Those GunDealers retailers will sign complaint with the A.T.F. Police Criminal Divsion too. To The U.S.A Treasury on is in charge of F.F.L.s renuals only too.the only one can do it too. No privite co. Or corp. On I.n.c.company can not issued a F.F.L.S Licenses too. Do you agree Sir?orMan? What public say about it too? We like to know !!

  9. 1. There about near count is Regular Gun Dealers is 01 option GunDealers is 09 N.F.A total is 47,200.too. The total of P!wnShop GunDealers 02 is 7800 total. The grand total in 55,000 F.F.Ls in U.S.A. the date should offical on new year eve is Date is 01/03/2023 too

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