Founding Fathers Gun Quotes:

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

quote what country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time thomas jefferson Quotes

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

Quotation George Mason To disarm the people is the best and most effectual Quotes

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

Quotation Thomas Jefferson The constitutions of most of our States assert that all Quotes

No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms.

- Thomas Jefferson

topic: Second Amendment, Arms, Use, Disarming, 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

Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property... Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.

- Thomas Paine

topic: Motivation, Fear, Government, 2 Amendment, Patriotic Gun

The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.

- Alexander Hamilton

source: "The Federalist Papers". Book by Alexander Hamilton, essay No. 69, 1787 - 1788.

topic: Gun, People, Gun Control, Handguns, Patriotic Gun

The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered Eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by doing so.

- Adolf Hitler

topic: Mistake, Race, Gun Control, Disarming, Pro Gun

If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.

- Dalai Lama

topic: Inspirational, Life, Motivational, Pro Gun, Shooting Guns

Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence.... From the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to ensure peace, security, and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable.... The very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference; they deserve a place of honor with all that's good... A free people ought to be armed.

- George Washington

topic: Gun, People, Evil, Pro Gun, Right To Bear Arms

The prohibition is general. No clause in the Constitution could by any rule of construction be conceived to give to Congress a power to disarm the people. Such a flagitious attempt could only be made under some general pretense by a state legislature. But if in any blind pursuit of inordinate power, either should attempt it, this amendment may be appealed to as a restraint on both.

- William Rawle

source: William Rawle (1829). “A view of the Constitution of the United States of America”, p.125

topic: Gun, Power, Giving, State Legislatures, Disarming

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

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

The whole of the Bill [of Rights] is a declaration of the right of the people at large or considered as individuals... It establishes some rights of the individual as unalienable and which consequently, no majority has a right to deprive them of.

- Albert Gallatin

topic: Rights, People, Majority, Individual Liberty, Individual Rights

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

Passing a law like the assault weapons ban is a symbolic - purely symbolic - move in that direction. Its only real justification is not to reduce crime but to desensitize the public to the regulation of weapons in preparation for their ultimate confiscation.

- Charles Krauthammer

topic: Real, Moving, Gun, Handguns, Right To Bear Arms

When the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British parliament was advised by an artful man [Sir William Keith], who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people. That it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them. But that they should not do it openly; but to weaken them and let them sink gradually, by totally disusing and neglecting the militia.

- George Mason

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

topic: Men, Gun, America, Handguns, Disarming

We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force.

- Ayn Rand

source: Ayn Rand, Nathaniel Branden, Alan Greenspan, Robert Hessen (1986). “Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal”, p.320, Penguin

topic: Gun, Government, Historical, Brute Force, Human History

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

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

- Benjamin Franklin

topic: Inspirational, Happiness, Peace, Social Democracy, Power Corruption

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

- Thomas Paine

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

And that the said 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; or to raise standing armies, unless necessary for the defense of the United States, or of some one or more of them; or to prevent the people from petitioning, in a peaceable and orderly manner, the federal legislature, for a redress of grievances; or to subject the people to unreasonable searches and seizures of their persons, papers or possessions.

- Samuel Adams

topic: Army, Rights, People, Founding Fathers Gun, Founding Fathers Second Amendment

The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.

- Edmund Burke

source: Speech at County Meeting of Buckinghamshire, 1784

topic: Wisdom, Giving Up, Freedom, Liberty And Equality, Civil Liberties

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

One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.

- Thomas Jefferson

topic: Love, Strength, Hope, Pro Gun, Patriotic 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

By calling attention to 'a well regulated militia,' 'the security of the nation,' and the right of each citizen 'to keep and bear arms,' our founding fathers recognized the essentially civilian nature of our economy... The Second Amendment still remains an important declaration of our basic civilian-military relationships in which every citizen must be ready to participate in the defense of his country. For that reason I believe the Second Amendment will always be important.

- John F. Kennedy

topic: Country, Father, Military, Handguns, Militia

Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.

- Thomas Jefferson

topic: Gun, Companion, Constant, Mind Games, 2 Amendment

Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.

- Ambrose Bierce

topic: Lunch, Voting, Democracy, Inspirational Voting, Liberal Democracy

We can't be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans.

- William J. Clinton

source: Clinton, William J. (1994). “Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton, 1993”, p.223, Best Books on

topic: Gun, Rights, Government, Power Corruption, Limited Government

...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

The powers of the sword are in the hands of the yeomanry of America from sixteen to sixty. The militia of these free commonwealths, entitled and accustomed to their arms, when compared with any possible army, must be tremendous and irresistible. Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress has no power to disarm the militia.

- Tench Coxe

source: The Pennsylvania Gazette, February 20, 1788.

topic: Gun, Second Amendment, Arms, Birthright, 2 Amendment

If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an outright ban, picking up every one of them... 'Mr. and Mrs. America, turn 'em all in,' I would have done it.

- Dianne Feinstein

source: "60 Minutes" Interview, www.youtube.com. February 05, 1995.

topic: Gun, America, United States, Disarming, Pro Gun Control

You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence.

- Charles A. Beard

topic: Life, Father, Struggle, Founding, Pro Gun

For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.

- Thomas Jefferson

topic: Military, Mean, Gun, Militia, Founding Fathers Gun

A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power, and jealousy will instantly inspire the inclination, to resist the execution of a law which appears to them unjust and oppressive.

- Noah Webster

topic: Military, Law, People, Military Force, 2 Amendment

Little more can reasonably be aimed at with respect to the people at large than to have them properly armed.

- Alexander Hamilton

topic: People, Littles, 2 Amendment, Militia, Federalist Papers

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

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

A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.

- George Washington

topic: Gun, Government, People, Military Uniform, 2 Amendment

What, sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty ... Whenever governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins.

- Elbridge Gerry

source: House of Representatives, Amendments to the Constitution, August 17, 1789.

topic: Freedom, Mean, Army, Invading, Militia

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

To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders of towns, counties or districts of a state, is to demolish every constitution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man; it is a dissolution of the government. The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.

- John Adams

source: "A Defence of the Constitutions of Government". Book by John Adams. Chapter 3: "Marchamont Nedham: Errors of Government and Rules of Policy", Sixth Rule, 1787.

topic: Men, Self, Hands, Demolish, 2 Amendment

The right of citizens to bear arms is just one guarantee against arbitrary government, one more safeguard against the tyranny which now appears remote in America, but which historically has proved to be always possible.

- Hubert H. Humphrey

topic: Government, America, Second Amendment, Handguns, Pro Gun

There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters

- Daniel Webster

source: Daniel Webster, James Rees (1839). “The beauties of the Hon. Daniel Webster: selected and arranged, with a critical essay on his genius and writings”, p.30

topic: Mean, Men, Promise, Limited Government, Pro Gun

A woman who demands further gun control legislation is like a chicken who roots for Colonel Sanders.

- Larry Elder

source: FaceBook post by Larry Elder from Dec 04, 2015

topic: Gun, Roots, Demand, Colonels, Pro Gun

The world is filled with violence. Because criminals carry guns, we decent law-abiding citizens should also have guns. Otherwise they will win and the decent people will loose.

- James Earl Jones

source: "Biography/ Personal Quotes". www.imdb.com.

topic: Winning, Gun, Law, Law Abiding Citizen, Pro Gun

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