The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or constitutionally known as Amendment II, states, “A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”
James Madison is credited for the insertion of the Second Amendment into the Bill of Rights.
Intent[]
This amendment was intended to provide the people with a means of defense against tyrannical government,[1] as well as the criminal element and foreign invaders. "A well regulated militia" uses a slightly archaic form of the word "regulated:" it is in the sense of "orderly" as in "a well-regulated clock," rather than meaning "governed by regulations."
The right is explicitly an individual right belonging to the people, regardless of whether or not they are members of a militia: it is an individual right that can be exercised in a collective manner.
In addition, the preamble to the Bill of Rights specifically notes that the Amendments are "declaratory and restrictive clauses" affecting the power of the state over the people.
References[]
- ↑ "being necessary to the security of a free State"