FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE John Paul Stevens has suggested the following modification to the Second Amendment to ensure its 'proper interpretation' as a collective, not individual, right:

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms when serving in the Militia shall not be infringed.”

Many take issue with that interpretation, and I would just add the following thought. The 'militia' in colonial America consisted of "a subset of 'the people'—those who were male, able-bodied, and within a certain age range", defined then (and codified in the Militia Act of 1903) as 17 to 45 years of age. Since the average age at death of males was 45-50 years well into the early 20th century, that would seem to indicate that the entire male population of the U.S. is -- or should be -- a member of the militia. Thus Justice Stevens 5 words add nothing.

HOT AIR has more on Justice Stevens 'helpful' comments.