Publication Date
2025
Presentation Length
20 minutes
College
College of Law
Department
Accounting and Management Information Systems
Student Level
Graduate
Faculty Mentor
Kristi Arth
Presentation Type
Talk/Oral
Summary
This paper argues that First Amendment challenges alone are not enough to address the rise of book bans in the United States. As restrictions increasingly limit access to works by minority and LGBTQ plus authors, new constitutional approaches are needed. Using the Law and Literature framework and Fahrenheit 451, the paper proposes applying Second Amendment principles to literature.
It contends that books function as powerful tools that shape thought and protect individuals from harmful ideas and government control. Like firearms, they support self defense, guard against government overreach, and provide personal value. By drawing this comparison, the paper shows that book bans restrict access to knowledge in ways that raise serious constitutional concerns.
The paper concludes that applying Second Amendment reasoning offers a new and compelling way to challenge censorship and defend access to ideas.
Recommended Citation
Boguslawski, Kristen M., "The Literary Arsenal in Fahrenheit 451: The Second Amendment Case Against Censorship" (2025). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 733.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/733
