Which of the following best represents the right protected by the 2nd Amendment?

• A. Freedom of speech
• B. Right to assemble
• C. Right to bear arms
• D. Right to due process

Answer: (C)

The right in question is the right of individuals to keep and bear arms. That means people may own and, in many cases, carry firearms for self-defense and other lawful purposes. The phrase “keep and bear arms” defines this protection, and in modern understanding courts have recognized an individual right to possess firearms, though regulations are allowed. The other rights listed come from different parts of the Constitution—freedom of speech and the right to assemble are First Amendment protections, while due process rights come from the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. So the right that best represents the Second Amendment is the right to bear arms.