What did the second amendment say about the right of private individuals to own weapons?

Answer 1

The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. There is some confusion because of the prefatory clause about the militia that has since been clarified by the Supreme Court to have no bearing on the rights of the individuals. In legal words:

The Amendment's prefatory clause announces a purpose, but does not limit or expand the scope of the second part, the operative clause. Read more about the second amendment at the link below.

Answer 2

The second amendment to the US Constitution 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 provides individuals the right to keep and bear arms - i.e. weapons including guns. There is current debate as to what individual rights to gun ownership are actually conveyed by the amendment:

One opinion is that the Second Amendment did not apply to individuals; rather, it recognized the right of a state to arm its militia.

A second opinion is that the Second Amendment recognized some limited individual right. However, this individual right could only be exercised by members of a functioning, organized state militia while actively participating in the organized militia's activities.

The third, known as the "standard model", is that the Second Amendment recognized the personal right of individuals to keep and bear arms.

In the case District of Columbia vs. Heller, the 2010 US Supreme Court pretty much upheld the "standard model" ruling that the Second Amendment protects an individual right.

Answer 3

Yes