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Right to Bear Arms

The right to bear arms is the constitutional protection for owning and carrying firearms, found in the Second Amendment. Courts decide its reach, while Congress and state legislatures write the gun laws that test its limits. Federal agencies also regulate licensing, sales, and shipping.

People usually bring questions about what the Second Amendment protects and what "well regulated" means. They ask how the Supreme Court has read the amendment, how individual rights differ from militia service, and why gun laws vary so much from state to state. They also ask how rules apply to specific settings, such as military bases and moving across state lines.

13articles
October 6last updated

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