this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2026
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The second amendment of the U.S. constitution guarantees the rights of citizens to bear arms. Many liberals support stricter gun laws so that there are stronger background checks, limits, etc in order to try and reduce mass shootings, etc. The right wing folks are generally the opposite, trying to remove limits and make them accessible.
So no, you cannot evoke the second amendment as a defense for shooting anyone. It would only be a potential legal defense against laws limiting gun ownership. The second amendment says you can own a gun, not that you can shoot people with them.
As for the state’s monopoly on violence, that pretty much stands except in clear cut cases of self defense. So if someone were to shoot an ICE agent (and survive the situation to make it to trial), it would have to be some pretty extraordinary circumstances that would allow the person to avoid conviction of a crime.