Which amendment contains the right to bear arms?

• A. First Amendment
• B. Fourth Amendment
• C. Second Amendment
• D. Sixth Amendment

Answer: (C)

The right to bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment. It states that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, tying this permission to the idea that a well-regulated militia is necessary for the security of a free state. That explicit language is why this amendment is the one you’d point to when asked which amendment covers bearing arms. The other amendments refer to different protections: free speech, religion, and assembly; protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; and rights of the accused in criminal prosecutions, such as the right to counsel and a speedy trial. In practice, this right coexists with laws that regulate how firearms may be owned or carried, showing that constitutional rights exist alongside reasonable restrictions.