right to keep and bear arms
Second Amendment protection
The right to keep and bear arms is the legal protection of individual firearm ownership, enshrined in the Second Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution.
The phrase originates from 18th-century language about citizens maintaining weapons for militia service and self-defense.
Its scope—whether it guarantees an individual right or only a collective right tied to militia membership—has been contested for over two centuries.
The court ruled the law violated the right to keep and bear arms.
- right to bear armsConstitutional weapon ownership guarantee
- ammunitionWeapon projectiles and charges
- militiaNon-professional armed force
- firearmProjectile weapon using explosives
- self-defenseProtecting oneself from harm
home defense · castle doctrine · colonial militias · armed resistance · constitution · weaponry · handguns · holster · arms · judicial review · background check · gun show loophole · American Revolution · shotguns · Second Amendment · rifles · shooting ranges · hunting equipment
right to keep and bear armsgun ban
Law forbidding firearm ownership
disarmament · gun control · weapons ban · assault weapons ban · arms control
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