What does the Second Amendment protect?

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution specifically protects the right of individuals to keep and bear arms. This provision was adopted in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights and has been the subject of significant legal debate and interpretation over the years. The amendment emphasizes the importance of a "well regulated Militia" to the security of a free State, and it asserts that the right to possess firearms is a fundamental individual right.

This constitutional protection is often discussed in the context of debates over gun control laws, individual rights versus public safety, and the historical significance of an armed populace in relation to government authority. The recognition of this amendment as safeguarding the "right to bear arms" is rooted in its language and the historical context in which it was framed.

The other options refer to different amendments that protect various civil liberties but do not pertain to the right to bear arms, which clearly aligns with the Second Amendment. For example, freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment, while protections against unreasonable searches are addressed in the Fourth Amendment. The right to a speedy trial is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment.