Video Library

Armed with Knowledge Webinar No. 1 features scholars Nicholas J. Johnson and Jody Lyneé Madeira examining one of the most fundamental questions in American constitutional history: Why do we have a Second Amendment? Through historical and legal perspectives, the webinar explores differing scholarly approaches to the Amendment’s origins, purpose, and development, offering educators and the public a thoughtful, nonpartisan look at the history and ideas that continue to shape modern Second Amendment discussions.

Virtual Seminar No. 20 features author and Top Shot Champion Chris Cheng examining the history of the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team through his historical novel Proven in Blood: A Novel of War, Betrayal & Belonging. The seminar explores how Japanese American soldiers fought with distinction abroad while many of their families remained incarcerated at home, demonstrating how historical fiction can illuminate questions of citizenship, patriotism, civil rights, and American identity.

Virtual Seminar No. 19 features historian and historic arms expert Joel Bohy examining the opening day of the American Revolution through forensic analysis of surviving bullet strikes and battlefield artifacts. The seminar explores how archaeology, ballistics, and historical research provide new insights into the fighting at Lexington, Concord, and along the British retreat to Boston, demonstrating how physical evidence continues to reshape our understanding of April 19, 1775.

Virtual Seminar No. 18 features Margaret Groban and Professor Lahny Silva examining the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) in the wake of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. The seminar explores competing perspectives on the historical foundations of firearm dispossession, the impact of United States v. Rahimi, and the implications of pending Second Amendment cases, including Wolford v. Lopez and United States v. Hemani. Key topics include the use of historical analogues in constitutional analysis, the balance between individual rights and public safety, and the evolving legal framework governing firearm regulations. This seminar has been approved for 1 hour of CLE credit by the Wyoming State Bar.

Firearms Research Center Executive Director Ashley Hlebinsky, Director George Mocsary, and Professor Jody Madeira host an informational session to discuss Armed with Knowledge, a nonpartisan Second Amendment education initiative supported by a U.S. Department of Education grant. In this presentation, the team explains how the initiative will provide educators with historically grounded resources and professional development, including an upcoming primary source historical law database, instructional videos, and an in-person conference. Additionally, Mocsary and Madeira preview the program's scholarly webinar series by engaging in a short discussion exploring the individual right versus collective right interpretations of the Second Amendment.

Virtual Seminar No. 17 with Professor Lee Francis examines the legal challenges to § 922(g)(3) and the federal prohibition on firearm possession by users of controlled substances. The seminar discusses the "dangerousness" framework, the distinction between status-based and conduct-based dispossession, and the potential impact of recent litigation on other federal firearm restrictions. Key topics include the intersection of Second and Eighth Amendment jurisprudence and the evolving standards for individual risk assessment. This seminar has been approved for 1 hour of CLE credit by the Wyoming State Bar.

Virtual Seminar No. 16 with attorney Tom Chittum discusses the federal laws that regulate the making of firearms. The seminar discusses the National Firearms Act and the Gun Control Act, including key definitions (prohibited persons, regulated firearms, and regulated acts), the role of registration and licensing, and how emerging issues like privately made firearms, conversion devices, and accessory classifications continue to shape compliance and litigation. This seminar has been approved for 1 hour of CLE credit by the Wyoming State Bar.

In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), the Supreme Court struck down New York’s “proper cause” requirement for concealed carry permits, prompting Hawaii to enact a law barring permit holders from carrying firearms on private property open to the public without explicit owner consent. In this video, Firearms Research Center Director George A. Mocsary examines the Supreme Court’s decision to take up the challenge to that law and whether the Ninth Circuit erred in allowing Hawaii to presumptively prohibit concealed carry in this manner.

Firearms Research Center Executive Director Ashley Hlebinsky joins Gun Talk Nation to discuss Armed with Knowledge, a new nonpartisan Second Amendment education initiative supported by a U.S. Department of Education grant. In this conversation, Hlebinsky explains how the Firearms Research Center is working with educators to provide historically grounded resources, scholarly perspectives, and practical tools for teaching and discussing the Second Amendment in today’s classrooms.

In panel 2 of our Fall Conference "The Colonial Militia" Jody Madeira, Joyce Malcolm, and Alexander Cain have an in-depth discussion examining the foundations of citizen defense and the legal frameworks that shaped early American militias. This conversation explores historical context, constitutional principles, and the evolution of militia law in the United States. This panel is eligible for Continuing Legal Education credit for both in-person and virtual attendees.