The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution provides for the right to keep and bear arms, and reads: "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."

Some people believe this language creates a Constitutional, individual right for citizens of the United States to keep and bear arms, and prohibits Congress and state legislatures from prohibiting or restricting the possession of firearms.

Others believe the beginning words ("A well regulated militia being necessary”) indicate the intent of the Amendment was only to restrict Congress from limiting a state’s right to self-defense. This collective rights theory of the Second Amendment holds that citizens do not have an individual right to possess firearms, and that federal, state, and local legislative bodies may regulate the possession of firearms without implicating a Constitutional right.

At the time the First Amendment was ratified, some militia members used their own weapons, and some used weapons from their state’s militia stores.

In Connecticut, the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution is recognized and provides for the right to keep and bear arms. However, the interpretation of this amendment has been subject to debate. The individual rights theory posits that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual's right to possess firearms, while the collective rights theory suggests that the right is linked to state militias and does not prevent government regulation of firearms. Connecticut, like other states, has its own regulations regarding firearms that are designed to balance the Second Amendment rights with public safety concerns. These regulations include background checks, permits for carrying firearms, and restrictions on the possession of certain types of weapons. The state statutes are subject to federal law and have been shaped by various court decisions interpreting the Second Amendment. Attorneys in Connecticut must navigate both state and federal laws when advising clients on firearms-related matters.