Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution addresses the right to bear arms?

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution specifically addresses the right to bear arms. It states, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." This amendment has been the basis for significant legal discussions and decisions regarding the regulation of firearms and individual rights to possess weapons.

The First Amendment focuses on the guarantees of freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. The Third Amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner’s consent during peacetime, which does not relate to the right to bear arms. The Fifth Amendment addresses rights related to legal proceedings, such as protection against self-incrimination and double jeopardy, but again does not pertain to the issue of firearm possession. Thus, the Second Amendment is the clear and definitive source for the constitutional right to bear arms.