Final answer:
The 2008 Supreme Court case, District of Columbia v. Heller, established an individual's right to bear arms for self-defense in the home, a decision further affirmed by McDonald v. Chicago in 2010. These landmark cases interpreted the Second Amendment to guarantee this right, although subsequent decisions have clarified that the right is not absolute.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the pivotal 2008 Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller, a 5-4 decision recognized that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution does guarantee an individual's right to bear arms. More specifically, it provides individuals the right to possess firearms that are unconnected to militia service and to use those arms for traditionally lawful purposes such as self-defense within one's home. This interpretation was further cemented in the 2010 decision of McDonald v. Chicago, where it was determined that this right is fundamental and applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.
It is important to note that while these landmark decisions have affirmed the individual right to bear arms, they do not establish this right as absolute. Subsequent rulings, such as the Supreme Court's decision in 2015 to allow certain San Francisco gun control laws to stand, highlight that, similar to rights under the First Amendment, there may be lawful restrictions. The ongoing societal debate and technological advancements in weaponry continue to challenge and refine the scope of the Second Amendment.