Final answer:
The original purpose of the Second Amendment was more focused on state militias than on individual gun rights, but interpretations have shifted over the years, especially with the District of Columbia v. Heller case.
Step-by-step explanation:
The original purpose of the Second Amendment has been widely debated. While it is true that the Second Amendment was created to ensure that states could maintain well-regulated militias for the security of a free state, the interpretation has evolved over time. Notably, in the District of Columbia v. Heller decision in 2008, the Supreme Court recognized that there is an individual right to bear arms, at least for purposes such as self-defense within the home.
However, this individual right is not absolute, as subsequent cases have shown that some regulations are permissible. Therefore, the statement that the original purpose of the Second Amendment was to provide for an individual right to bear arms is false, as initially, it was more about the states' ability to ensure their own security through militias, rather than about individual gun ownership.