Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has called for the repeal of the Second Amendment of the US Constitution – the right to bear arms - saying it “would make our schoolchildren safer” and “honour the memories of... victims of recent gun violence”.

In an comment piece in the New York Times, the 97-year-old argued that the amendment had been warped by gun lobbying groups such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) to extend beyond its original intent.

He pointed out that the amendment was adopted out of “concern that a national standing army might pose a threat to the security of the separate states”.

“Today that concern is a relic of the 18th Century,” said the former justice, a Republican, even though he is widely considered to have been on the liberal side of the highest court in the US at the time of his retirement in 2010.

Mr Stevens was on the losing end of a 2008 ruling in which the Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to own a gun for self-defence.

In his opinion piece, Mr Stevens wrote that a constitutional amendment “to get rid of” the Second Amendment “would do more to weaken the NRA’s ability to stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun control legislation than any other available option”.

His comments were largely in response to the March for Our Lives demonstrations last weekend, where hundreds of thousands of people across the country called on members of Congress to pass stricter gun control laws.

The protests were led by students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the high school in Parkland, Florida, where a shooter killed 17 people, including 14 students, last month.

March for Our Lives – in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 March for Our Lives – in pictures March for Our Lives – in pictures Demonstrators chant during the protest for gun legislation and school safety AP March for Our Lives – in pictures Trevon ‘Tre’ Bosley, 19, of Chicago, the brother of Terrell Bosley who was killed in 2006 in a case of mistaken identity, speaks during the rally AP March for Our Lives – in pictures Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Delaney Tarr speaks at the rally AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Protestors line the streets in Washington Getty Images March for Our Lives – in pictures People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Protestors carrying placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Protestors hold up placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Schoolchildren wear targets ahead of the rally Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Attendees congregate in preparation for the march Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Students brought a host of innovative placards AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures The movement’s main demand is the banning of assault rifles Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Since the Florida shooting, students have called for urgent gun reform AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures In the wake of the Florida attack, President Donald Trump called for teachers to be armed AFP/Getty

“Rarely in my lifetime have I seen the type of civic engagement schoolchildren and their supporters demonstrated in Washington and other major cities throughout the country this past Saturday,” Mr Stevens wrote. “These demonstrations demand our respect.”

But he said they should seek more effective and lasting reform. The demonstrators are currently demanding a prohibition on civilian ownership of semi-automatic weapons, an increase in the minimum age to buy a gun from 18 to 21, and comprehensive background checks on all purchasers of firearms.