Amendment 19 Quotes:

Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest.

- Mahatma Gandhi

topic: Inspirational, Gun, Political, Misdeeds, Pro Gun

The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world not destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside ... Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of them ... the weak will become prey to the strong.

- Thomas Paine

topic: Strong, Gun, Balance, Pro Gun, Balance Of Power

Arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe and preserve order...

- Thomas Paine

topic: Gun, Order, Law, Patriotic Gun, Militia

The militia is the natural defense of a free country against sudden foreign invasions, domestic insurrections, and domestic usurpation of power by rulers. The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of the republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally ... enable the people to resist and triumph over them.

- Joseph Story

source: Joseph Story (1833). “Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States: With a Preliminary Review of the Constitutional History of the Colonies and States, Before the Adoption of the Constitution”, p.708

topic: Country, Strong, People, Insurrection, 2 Amendment

A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves... and include all men capable of bearing arms.

- Richard Henry Lee

source: Richard Henry Lee, Mercy Otis Warren (1962). “An Additional number of letters from the Federal farmer to the Republican, leading to a fair examination of the system of government, proposed by the late Convention: to several essential and necessary alterations in it; and calculated to illustrate and support the principles and positions laid down in the preceding letters. Together with Oberservations on the new Constitution, and on the Federal and State Conventions by a Columbian patriot”

topic: 4th Of July, Men, People, Strong Arms, Amendment 1

Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom.

- John F. Kennedy

topic: Sacrifice, Liberty, Arms, Minutemen, Limiting Government

Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States.

- Noah Webster

source: Noah Webster (1787). “An Examination Into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution Proposed by the Late Convention Held at Philadelphia: With Answers to the Principal Objections that Have Been Raised Against the System”, p.43

topic: Army, Europe, Law, Handguns, Pretense

The great object is that every man be armed.

- Patrick Henry

topic: Men, Gun, Second Amendment, 2 Amendment, Patriotic Gun

A strong body makes the mind strong.

- Thomas Jefferson

topic: Strong, Exercise, Mind, Mind Games, Mind And Body

Is the relinquishment of the trial by jury and the liberty of the press necessary for your liberty? Will the abandonment of your most sacred rights tend to the security of your liberty? Liberty, the greatest of all earlthy blessings - give us that precious jewel, and you may take every things else! . . . Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel.

- Patrick Henry

source: Virginia's U.S. Constitution ratification convention, June 5, 1788.

topic: Freedom, Jealous, Blessing, Individual Liberty, Guards Up

The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.

- Thomas Jefferson

topic: Gun Control, People, Southern, Strong Arms, Pro Gun

The Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms.

- Samuel Adams

source: Debates of the Massachusetts Convention, 1788.

topic: Gun, Strong Arms, People, Handguns, States Rights

What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.

- Thomas Jefferson

topic: Country, Freedom, People, Lethargy, Social Revolution

Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.

- Thomas Jefferson

topic: Men, Law, May, Limited Government, Founding

Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?

- Patrick Henry

source: "The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: Volume 3". Book by Jonathan Elliot, 1836.

topic: Real, Hands, Differences, Handguns, Propriety

A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

- James Madison

source: James Madison, Gaillard Hunt, James Brown Scott (1999). “The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787: Which Framed the Constitution of the United States of America”, p.690, The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd.

topic: Gun, Libertarian Party, Assault Weapons, Fifth Amendment, Militia

Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

- Alice Paul

topic: Sex, Rights, Law, Equal Rights Amendment, Amending The Constitution

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. - Second Amendment to the Constitution An armed society is a polite society.

- Robert A. Heinlein

topic: People, Second Amendment, Liberty, Fifth Amendment, Militia

I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials.

- George Mason

topic: People, Liberty, Libertarian, Founding, 2 Amendment

To disarm the people... was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.

- George Mason

source: George Mason's address to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 14, 1788.

topic: Strength, Peace, Gun, Handguns, Disarming

Militias, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves and include all men capable of bearing arms. [...] To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.

- Richard Henry Lee

topic: Gun, Men, People, Strong Arms, Militia

There will never be a new world order until women are a part of it.

- Alice Paul

source: "A Photographer Traveled The World Snapping Portraits Of Women And Girls ‘Living On The Edge’" by Priscilla Frank, www.huffingtonpost.com. October 8, 2015.

topic: Women, Order, World, Women's Suffrage, Women's Rights

No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms.

- Thomas Jefferson

topic: Second Amendment, Arms, Use, Disarming, Militia

...that standing army can never be formidable (threatening) to the liberties of the people, while there is a large body of citizens, little if at all inferior to them in the use of arms.

- Alexander Hamilton

topic: Army, Gun, People, Militia, Right To Bear Arms

This [a state militia system] appears to me the only substitute that can be devised for a standing army, and the best possible security against it, if it should exist.

- Alexander Hamilton

topic: Army, States, Should, 2 Amendment, Militia

Whereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it.

- Richard Henry Lee

source: "An Additional Number of Letters to the Republican". Letters by the Federal Farmer (pseudonym of Richard Henry Lee), Letter XVIII, teachingamericanhistory.org. January 25, 1988.

topic: Men, Practice, People, Nra, Strong Arms

A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.

- Thomas Jefferson

topic: Being Strong, Nature, Character, Mind Games, Mind And Body

Wherever standing armies are kept up, and when the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any color or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction.

- St. George Tucker

source: William Blackstone, St. George Tucker (1996). “Blackstone's Commentaries: With Notes of Reference to the Constitution and Laws, of the Federal Government of the United States, and of the Commonwealth of Virginia: With an Appendix to Each Volume, Containing Short Tracts Upon Such Subjects as Appeared Necessary to Form a Connecte”, p.300, The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd.

topic: Army, Gun, Color, 2 Amendment, Patriotic Gun

That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience.

- John Adams

topic: Gun, Rights, Second Amendment, 2 Amendment, Police Protection

Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation.... Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.

- James Madison

topic: Military, Government, Europe, Disarming, Framers