Decl. of Rights, Art. XVII
Right to bear arms; civilian control of military
Right
Individual Rights
Declaration of Rights
Official text rightpowerlimitif conditionlegal term
The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence. And as, in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained without the consent of the legislature; and the military power shall always be held in an exact subordination to the civil authority, and be governed by it.
Simplified explanation
The people have a right to keep and bear arms for the common defence. Because armies in peacetime are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained without the legislature's consent, and the military shall always be subordinate to and governed by the civil authority.