2nd Amendment history lesson I read a Dec. 30 Opinion letter entitled “NRA needs to get serious.” The writer stated: “The original purpose of the Second Amendment was to have a militia armed with muskets ready to defend the government.” The Second Amendment actually protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It 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.” America’s early leaders were very concerned about protecting the citizens from the type of British government …