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The meaning of this amendment is controversial with respect to gun control.
The meaning of this amendment is controversial with respect to gun control.
The National Rifle Association, which opposes gun control, has a stone plaque bearing the words "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." This phrase, by itself, sounds as if it means that any individual citizen has the right to own and use guns.
The National Rifle Association, which opposes gun control, has a stone plaque in front of its headquarters bearing the words "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." This phrase, by itself, sounds as if it means that any individual citizen has the right to own and use guns.
The problem is that when the entire sentence is quoted, the first part makes it sound as if the amendment is talking only about the ''militia,'' i.e. the National Guard. The phrase "the people" can be read as meaning "the states."
The problem is that when the entire sentence is quoted, the first part makes it sound as if the amendment is talking only about the ''militia,'' i.e. the National Guard. The phrase "the people" can be read as meaning "the states."