text: The 2nd Amendment, along with the other Amendments from the Bill of Rights, were designed to overthrow the federal government if it became too oppressive. Look at the entire Bill of Rights...almost all of the Amendments would be ESSENTIAL to overthrow a Government.\n\nThe individuals responsible for the Bill of Rights were opposed to a federal government. They insisted that the Bill of Rights be attached before they would ratify the Constitution. They are usually referred to today as the "Anti-Federalists", and those who were for the federal government were known as the "Federalists". \n\nYou can find some of the writings of the Anti-Federalists online, and there are some books printed that have their collective writings in them. Read them and you'll understand their thoughts, fears, and reasonings behind the Bill of Rights. \n\nMost people today, including the ACLU, are IGNORANT about the Bill of Rights. They were not designed to be "personal" rights (so to speak), but designed to overthrow the government...long may they stand.