Passed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791.
             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 Second Amendment has become one of the most debated Amendments of the United States Constitution. When it was originally passed into law in the 1700's, it was basically understood as it was written; that citizen's have the right to keep and bear arms. It wasn't until the Twentieth Century that Americans started questioning it's meaning and attempting to interpret it based on their own principals and beliefs. It was mainly those considered influential who thought it a good idea to disarm the civilian population.
             Those opposed to a citizen's right to bear arms say that the Second Amendment does not mean United States civilian's can keep, or bear arms. They claim the Amendment allows the "militia", or the National Guard (as we now know it), to carry and keep arms for the protection of a free state. They say it also allows for those in the military to arm themselves if needed for service. Had it not been for the preface of this Amendment, which states "A well regulated militia", it would be interpreted the way it was written. It is the only provision in the Bill Of Rights that contains a 'prefatory' statement of purpose.
             Those in the legal community are the leaders of this opposition to a citizen's right to bear arms. Although, even the courts on all levels have difficulty in interpreting this Amendment, leaving it basically worthless. The Supreme Court has yet to address the issue of the misinterpretations surrounding the Second Amendment; and possibly never will.
             The founding generations were very distrustful of active armies during peacetime. Many American citizen's believed due to past experiences that governments used armies t
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