In hearing Washington DC v. Heller this week, for the first time in decades the US Supreme Court has the chance to define once and for all “the right to bear arms.” The case stems from a controversial ban on guns in D.C., which has made its way through court after court. And now, groups on both sides of the gun issue eagerly await the Justices’ ruling expected in June.

NPR asked Professor Albert "Buzz" Scherr to help put the case, and the Second Amendment, in context, in an appearance on The Exchange, hosted by Laura Knoy.

The text of the Second Amendment 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."

Why does the amendment open with the clause about the necessity of a miliitia? What did the founders mean by the word militia? Who, exactly, were they referring to with the word people? Did the founders intend to protect an individual's right or a state's right from being superseded by federal authority?

Listen to the program at NHPR to find out.