#26

"...and that the said Constitution be never construed 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 *

"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except
for a few public servants."        * George Mason *

"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...It is true, the yeomenry of the
country possess the lands, the weight of property, possess arms, and
are too strong a body of men to be openly offended (but) they may in
twenty or thirty years be, by means imperceptible to them, totally
deprived of that boasted weight and strength. This may be done in
great measure by Congress, if it disposed to do it, by modeling the
militia. Should one-fifth or one-eighth part of the men capable of
bearing arms be made into a select militia, as has been
proposed...and all others put upon a plan which will render them of
no importance, the former will answer all the purposes of an army,
while the latter will be defenseless...
The constitution ought to secure a genuine, and guard against
a select, militia, by providing that the militia shall always be
kept well organized, armed and disciplined [well regulated], and
include, according to the past and general usage of the States, all
men capable of bearing arms; and that all regulations to render this
militia useless and defenseless, by establishing select corps of
militia, or distinct bodies of military men not having any permanent
interests or attachments in the community, to be avoided..."
                               * Richard Henry Lee *

"Another source of power in government is a military force. But
this, to be efficient, must be superior to any force that exists
among the people, or which they can command; otherwise, this force
would be annihilated on first exercise of acts of oppression.
Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as
they are in almost every kingdom in 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 *

"No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
                                    * Thomas Jefferson *

"What would things been like (in Russia) if during periods of mass
arrests people had not simply sat there, pailing with terror at
every bang on the downstairs door and at every step on the
staircase, but understood they had nothing to lose and had boldly
set up in the downstairs hall an ambush of half a dozen people?"
                                * Alexander Solzhenitsyn *

Sam Adams opposed ratification unless accompanied by a provision
that "the said Constitution be never construed...to prevent the
people, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms,"
and, "arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual
discretion for the defense of the nation, the overthrow of tyranny
or private self-defense."

     "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty.  Suspect
everyone who approaches that jewel.  Unfortunately, nothing will
preserve it but downright force.  Whenever you give up that force,
you are ruined.....The great object is that every man be
armed.....Everyone who is able may have a gun." * Patrick Henry *

     "Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself.
They are the American people's liberty teeth and the keystone under
independence...The rifle and pistol are equally indispensable...The
very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil
interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that is good."
* George Washington *

     "We, the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and
the Courts - not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men
who pervert the Constitution."        * Abraham Lincoln *

     "A strong body makes the mind strong.  As to the species of
exercises, I advise the gun.  While this gives a 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 the constant companion of your walks."
                                   * Thomas Jefferson *

(Governments derive)....."their just powers from the consent of the
governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive
of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish
it, and to institute new Government. But when a long train of abuses
and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a
design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, (absolute power or
influence of any kind) it is their right, it is their duty, to throw
off such Government, and to provide mew Guards for their future
security."                    -- Declaration of Independence --


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