Discuss the relationship between the 1st and 2nd Amendments and Essay

Discuss the relationship between the 1st and 2nd Amendments and contemporary political issues - Essay Example all make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.† The Second Amendment states â€Å"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed† (â€Å"The Constitution†, 2006). Freedom of the press is essential to democracy and has been accurately described as the ‘Fourth Estate’ of government. As the three branches of government act to check and balance each other, the press watches over them all. Sources of information are essential to the work of the press. Some sources wish to remain confidential so as not to jeopardize their position. Without these sources, government misdoings such as the Watergate scandal would never have come to light. Whether or not a journalist has the right to protect the identity of their sources is a constitutional issue that remains controversial. The freedom of religion has been interpreted by many as a constitutional right to the freedom from religion, as issue that refers to many topics not the least of which involves the teaching of the Biblical account of human creation in public schools. The Second Amendment is interpreted very differently by those for and against the right for private citizens to own guns. This discussion will address these three issues as they relate to the First and Second Amendments. The Founding Fathers considered a free press one of if not the most important aspect in the formation of a free and democratic society. Though much of American law is patterned from the English legal system, the Founders wanted to distinguish the newly formed government from England where the press was tightly censored. Journalists who questioned the King’s decisions were often jailed or worse. The Founders knew