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. In summary, the right to bear arms generally refers to a person's right to possess weapons.The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess firearms for historically lawful purposes, including self-defense in the home. The Second Amendment (Amendment II) to the United States Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms. It was ratified on December 15, 1791. The Second Amendment (Amendment II) to the United States Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms. The Second Amendment rights also form a foundational element of our defense strategy. Amendment was compared to several other Constitutional Amend- ments which grant individual rights to the people. Some say that courts should determine exceptions to broadly worded individual rights, including the Second. The Second Amendment guarantees all citizens the right to bear arms.