Not much has really changed. There are still those who wish to take rights away from the people. Tyranny is still a problem and often is promoted by leftists today much like the King of England back then.
There are those who think the Constitution is antiquated and has no applicability today. These poor fools are so misguided, but we endure their constant efforts to impose socialism on us all.
No man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against the tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson, June 1776
The last, most important check on government abuse of individual rights is an armed populace. A written constitution requires somebody to enforce it. Any mechanism built into the government, such as Checks and Balances, can be eventually bypassed by a determined government. Ultimately, the only thing that can prevent the use of force is the threat or use of greater force. To this end, the people are the ultimate check on government.
Only an armed population has the ability to overthrow a tyrannical government. Governments are well aware of this. In every dictatorship, ownership of guns is outlawed to the general populace. Before the Nazis went about exterminating their Jewish population, they needed to disarm them first. A state treads carefully when the citizens are armed.
