better ways to protect yourself: pepper spray, martial arts, better home security, watch dog, etc.

There is no change in the principle of which the 2nd amendment rests. The PRINCIPLE is the same, but there are other ways to ensure this right. The principle on which the 2nd amendment was written was that the people must be able to "check" the government's power. The 2nd amendment was created to protect the people, but thousands of people are dying in a year because of it. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO STOP THE GOVERNMENT FROM BEING TOO POWERFUL!