Final answer:
The most recently afforded protection from state governments under the Bill of Rights is the right to bear arms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most recently afforded protection from state governments under the Bill of Rights is the right to bear arms, protected by the Second Amendment. This right guarantees individuals the freedom to own and carry firearms for self-defense and other lawful purposes. While the Second Amendment was initially only applicable to the federal government, the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment has extended this protection to state and local governments as well. For example, in the landmark case McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010), the Court ruled that the Second Amendment applies to the states, striking down Chicago's ban on handgun ownership.