The level of misinformation surrounding the Second Amendment will be addressed under a new program funded by the Trump administration.
The University of Wyoming College of Law’s Firearms Research Center (FRC) announced a nearly $1 million grant from the federal government. The ambitious project is titled “Armed With Knowledge: A Nonpartisan Second Amendment Initiative.”
Its purpose?
To arm secondary school teachers with the facts concerning gun rights, how they are rooted in our history and culture, and the legal ramifications of firearm ownership.
The Second Amendment is under constant attack from anti-gun radicals
In the news release announcing the historic grant, University of Wyoming College of Law Professor and Firearms Research Center Director George Mocsary called for correcting misinformation about the Second Amendment that is often cited as fact.
“The doctrinal complexity of the Second Amendment is too often obscured by divisive discourse,” Mocsary noted. “We seek to provide a much-needed apolitical approach to an otherwise politically charged topic, emphasizing the legal and civic origins of the right to bear arms, connecting it to the early principles of the nation’s founding and examining its evolving role, through legal interpretation, in American culture over time.”
Supporters hope to educate the people about the Second Amendment in a nonpartisan manner
The two-year grant originated with the Department of Education’s American History and Civics Education Program. The initiative will provide secondary teachers with primary sources, visual instructional aids, and expert scholarship.
FRC Executive Director Ashley Hlebinsky said the necessary effort coincides with a significant anniversary.
“Our project will honor the nation’s 250th anniversary by allowing educators to engage with the complexity and nuance of the country’s founding documents,” Hlebinsky explained. “As the nation approaches its semi-quincentennial, the ability to not only possess an intellectually rigorous grasp of constitutional text, structure, and jurisprudence, but also to respectfully discuss and debate with those who possess a range of beliefs, has never been greater.”
Supporters emphasize that differing viewpoints will be presented factually. This should replace the often-heated rhetoric that typically comes from those opposed to the freedom to keep and bear arms.
Wyoming’s status as a bastion of Second Amendment rights makes it a perfect fit for this project. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder praised the curriculum to be developed as critical for classrooms nationwide.
“In education, we are tasked not only with preparing students for jobs, but to be good American citizens as well, and I applaud President Trump and (Secretary of Education) Linda McMahon for prioritizing such,” Degenfelder said.
Wyoming’s congressional delegation was vocal in its praise for the flagship university’s effort. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) told Cowboy State Daily that such education is needed to cut through the ongoing debate.
“Civic education is critically important to ensure each generation of Americans understands the role our Constitution plays in securing our natural liberties,” Hageman said. “I welcome all efforts to strengthen our understanding of the Second Amendment, especially as our modern perception of this amendment is shaped more by political activism than by law and history.”
The lawmaker touted her state as the perfect launch pad for the initiative.
The FRC staff will direct the program in collaboration with an advisory committee comprised of K-12 educators, public health authorities, and the UW College of Education.
Teachers will be brought in from schools across the country for training. They will leave with instructional video modules, webinars featuring nonpartisan expert perspectives, and a complimentary digital archive of primary documents and legal sources on the Second Amendment.
The FRC was established two years ago to provide nonpartisan education on the right to keep and bear arms. Besides its educational mission, it also works with law enforcement and other agencies to promote firearms safety and prevent suicide.
There’s no better way to show your patriotism than with merch that speaks before you do.
Defend America is more than a name, it’s a stand for freedom, resilience, and the values this country was built on. Every tee, hat, and mug is a symbol of unapologetic pride. Wear it loud, wear it proud, and let the world know: freedom isn’t negotiable.
Click the link below to join the movement.