This report contends that most U.S. history and government textbooks give only cursory attention to the Second Amendment "...the right of the people to keep and bear arms..." to the U.S. Constitution, and most endorse a particular political view of the amendment, rather than providing the necessary background for an informed political discussion of gun control. The report begins by summarizing court decisions on the Second Amendment and then provides examples of what students are being taught about the Second Amendment based on a review of 40 leading U.S. history and civics textbooks. Three appendices are included: (1) Court Decisions Supporting "Militia" Interpretation of the Second Amendment; (2) Review of Textbook Discussions of the Second Amendment; and (3) Excerpts From Textbooks Reviewed. (DB)