Amendment, Second

Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791, guaranteeing the right of the people to ‘bear arms’. The interpretation of this amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, has been hotly debated, especially in relation to gun control laws.

Some argue that the Second Amendment was designed to enable state militias to operate as a means of defence. Others argue that the amendment was designed to ensure each individual the right to own a firearm. Members of gun organizations such as the National Rifle Association use the latter interpretation to justify their opposition to any major restriction on ownership of firearms.