在2008年及2010年,美国联邦最高法院分别做出了两个与本修正案有关的指标性判决。在哥伦比亚特区诉黑勒案(英语:District of Columbia v. Heller)(District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008))中,联邦最高法院判决认为,第二修正案保障个人拥有枪枝的权利,不论该人是否属于民兵皆然,[7][8]并且可以基于合法的目的使用该等武器,诸如在屋内自我防卫。在麦克唐纳诉芝加哥案(McDonald v. Chicago, 561 U.S. 3025 (2010))中,法院判决第二修正案不仅能约束联邦政府,对于州政府和地方政府同样具有拘束力[9]。
^"The court held that the second amendment recognized an individual right to possess and carry a firearm unconnected with militia service." Pollock, Earl. The Supreme Court and American Democracy: Case Studies on Judicial Review and Public Policy. Greenwood. 2008: 423. ISBN 978-0-313-36525-6.
^"held that the second amendment protects an individual's right to bear arms," Scaros, Constantinos E. Understanding the Constitution. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. 2010: 484. ISBN 978-0-7637-5811-0.
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Carter, Gregg Lee. Guns in American Society. ABC-CLIO. 2002.
Charles, Patrick J. The Second Amendment: The Intent and Its Interpretation by the States and the Supreme Court. McFarland. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7864-4270-6.
Cooke, Edward Francis. A Detailed Analysis of the Constitution. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. 2002. ISBN 0-7425-2238-5.
Pole, J. R.; Greene, Jack P. A Companion to the American Revolution (Blackwell Companions to American History). Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers. 2003. ISBN 1-4051-1674-9.
Tucker, St. George; Blackstone, William. Blackstone's Commentaries: With Notes of Reference to the Constitution and Laws, of the Federal Government of the United States, and of the Commonwealth of Virginia: In Five Volumes. The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. 1996. ISBN 978-1-886363-15-1.
Vile, John R. The Constitutional Convention of 1787: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of America's Founding (2 Volume Set). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. 2005. ISBN 1-85109-669-8.
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