Quote:Taken literally, the 2nd amendment says the federal government cannot infringe (interfere) with the right to bear (carry) arms. Any arms. The militia clause states a fact, it is not a rule, and there is no modifier that states the right to bear arms is dependent on having or needing a militia. If that were true 'Because' or 'As long as' would precede the rest of the text.


 

The 14th amendment extended the prohibition to state and local governments.