It was President Nixons', Solicitor General of the US, that appeared before the US Supreme Court and declared that the administration considered the 2nd. Amendment as a "collective right". Can you believe it? Nixon and his Country Club Republican cronies concocted this evil interpretation in order to disarm the Black Panthers. As far as I'm concerned, Nixon should be dug up and impeached for this offense to the Constitution. Any right that is considered or rendered "collective", by definition, ceases to be a right. The government has "nullified" the amendment.
Yes well that's just more proof that Nixon was no conservative. He also gave us affirmative action, though to be fair then it was meant to remedy past wrongs done to a couple of groups who comprised only about 15% of the population, whereas now it has been reimagined to achieve diversity even for non-white immigrants and their children who have no claim to past injustices.
But anyway, I remember that when Bush took office his administration reversed the Clinton line and stated that it considers the Second Amendment to protect an individual right, not a collective one. It caused a bit of a stir among some of those stealth-gun ban types and their media allies. Imagaine that; controversy over endorsing the orignial intent of the Second Amendment. It was one of the best things Bush has done, and clearly Kerry would reverse it if he wins.
But it is largely symbolic because the Sup Court would ultimately decide what it means. Not that they should have that right, but they unfortunately do. They did rule on it back in the 1920s or 30s, but I can't seem to find a consensus on what it means, so a definitive ruling awaits.