Final answer:
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution establishes the right of citizens to possess firearms for lawful purposes. Its interpretation has been a subject of controversy, with debates over individual gun rights and the role of militias. In the District of Columbia v. Heller case, the Supreme Court recognized an individual's right to keep and bear arms for self-defense within the home.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, created in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, establishes the right of citizens to possess firearms for lawful purposes. It 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."
The interpretation of the Second Amendment has been a point of controversy. Some argue that it guarantees individuals the right to own guns, while others believe it only protects the right of the states to organize a militia. This has led to debates over gun control laws and the extent of individual rights.
In the 2008 case of District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms for self-defense within the home.