The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on December 15, 1791, protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Its exact text reads: "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." This amendment establishes an individual right to possess firearms, primarily for self-defense, and limits the government's ability to infringe upon that right. Supreme Court rulings have confirmed that this right applies to individuals for self-defense in their homes and extends to state and local governments, with some reasonable restrictions allowed, such as prohibiting gun possession by felons or the mentally ill.
