Commentary: What is the Second Amendment really about?

Ask any gun enthusiast what the Second Amendment says and the answer will likely be a paraphrased version of, “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” But this is only the concluding half of the amendment.The generally ignored opening clause provides an interesting premise for that conclusive final statement. “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state,” the amendment begins. What does this mean, and why was it