What does the 2nd Amendment protect?

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution specifically protects the right of individuals to keep and bear arms. This amendment, ratified in 1791, 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." Its purpose is often interpreted as both ensuring the ability of state militias to defend against tyranny and protecting individual citizens' rights to possess weapons for personal defense and other lawful purposes.

Understanding this context helps highlight the importance of the Second Amendment in discussions about gun rights and regulations in contemporary society. The amendment has been the subject of significant legal interpretation, especially regarding individual versus collective rights to bear arms, reflecting its ongoing relevance in American political and legal debates.