The main intent of the amendment was to permit citizens to own or possess firearms. Please be aware that, at the time it was written, the standard operating procedure in most nations was to raise armies only in time of war. It was not until after the Napoleonic wars that large standing armies came into existence. As such, and in a fledgling nation, it was imperative that the citizenry have weapons which could be called up at a moment's notice. In a modern sense, this requirement no longer exists. (As romantic as it may seem, hauling out Old Reliable to fend off professional forcesdoesn't have a happy ending. Think armed deer with air support.) Still, the right to bear arms remains if only to give visible confirmation of the individual's right to oppose a tyrannical government. And it can be argued that the amendment extends to the protection of self and property. The right to personal property also must be considered.
Bear in mind that a LOT of the Constitution and early amendments stem from how Great Britain treated the colonies through the various Acts precipitating the Revolutionary War. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice - won't be fooled twice, thank you! And the insurance of personal freedoms tops the list. (This even goes back to the Magna Carta,the basis for U.S. civil law.) Let's face it. The founding fathers weren't dumb. Consider how flexible the Constitution has remained when faced with developments the original framers never initially intended or could even have dreamed of. They built their house to last!
