[William Tell]

robertpaulsen said: "The second amendment, however, was meant to protect something entirely different: "

So you say that the Second Amendment only protects the right of a state to form a militia? And there is no individual right to keep and bear arms protected by the Second Amendment?

[robertpaulsen]

It protects the individual right to keep and bear Militia-type arms as part of a well regulated state Militia from federal infringement. It is an individual right of "the people" that is exercised collectively as a Militia.

It's similar to the right to vote or the right to assemble.