Which case is central to recognizing the individual right to bear arms and informs incorporation to the states?

• A. United States v. Heller
• B. Roe v. Wade
• C. District of Columbia v. Heller recognizing an individual right and McDonald extending to the states
• D. McDonald v. City of Chicago

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how the Second Amendment’s protection is recognized and then applied to the states through incorporation. District of Columbia v. Heller is the case that first held the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms for self-defense, not limited to service in a militia. McDonald v. City of Chicago then explained that this individual right is binding on state and local governments by incorporating the Second Amendment through the Fourteenth Amendment. The best choice mentions both: District of Columbia v. Heller recognizing an individual right and McDonald extending the protection to the states. The other options don’t combine both elements—Roe v. Wade is unrelated to gun rights, and pairing Heller with McDonald separately doesn’t capture both recognition and incorporation in one answer.