What does the Fourteenth Amendment ensure regarding state laws?

The Fourteenth Amendment is a crucial part of the United States Constitution that addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law. Specifically, it states that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This means that individuals are entitled to be treated equally and without discrimination by the state, regardless of race, gender, religion, or other characteristics. The equal protection clause has been the basis for many landmark Supreme Court decisions, including those that deal with civil rights and discrimination.

While the other choices refer to important rights, they are not the focus of the Fourteenth Amendment. The right to travel freely is related to constitutional liberties but is not explicitly guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. Freedom of speech is primarily protected by the First Amendment, and the right to bear arms is addressed in the Second Amendment. Thus, the emphasis on equal protection under the law is what makes this choice the correct answer in the context of the Fourteenth Amendment.