From: NRA-ILA: The Second Amendment

On December 17, 2004, the U.S. Department of Justice published an exhaustive Second Amendment memorandum. It concludes without reservation that "the Second Amendment secures a personal right of individuals, not a collective right that may only be invoked by a State or a quasi-collective right restricted to those persons who serve in organized militia units."

Many people have heard about this definitive analysis, but probably few have read the actual report. It's exhaustive and convincing. For hard core Second Amendment supporters, it's a must read. This is an historic document that will influence the interpretation of the Second Amendment for decades to come.

MEMORANDUM OPINION FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: The Second Amendment secures a right of individuals generally, not a right of States or a right restricted to persons serving in militias. Follow this link to access the full paper.