What the Second Amendment Says (in Modern English)
The Second Amendment to the Constitution protects a U.S. citizen’s right to possess (keep) and carry (bear) firearms. It was ratified on December 15, 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, at a time when the newly formed states were concerned that the federal government might try to disarm the state militias. At that time, the state militias were the primary military force of the nation. Letting the federal government control access to guns would make the states weaker and less able to defend themselves against federal government actions and policies they objected to. Click here for more.