A bogus Washington quote

[DeepSouth]

I recently read a bogus George Washington quote that raised a question. It's not so much the quote, obviously it's not the quote that raises the question, it's the idea. Even though the quote is incorrect, I do believe most of the founding Fathers would agree with it.

I guess you need to know the quote.

Bogus quote..

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.

Actual Quote.. from George Washington's First Annual Message to Congress January 8, 1790

A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a Uniform and well digested plan is requisite: And their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories, as tend to render them independent others, for essential, particularly for military supplies.

I guess my question is, "Is it even possible to have 'sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence.' With modern military weapons, and the overwhelming amount of cash that goes into most countries defense budget it would seem that a well armed army of common people would have little to no change against most modern military's, without the use of an "illegal arms trade" The idea of keeping a hoard of ammo and a 'battle rifle' for this purpose seems unrealistic at first glance.

BUT There are two main reasons I own an AK, one is because my kids may not be able to legally buy one when they are grown but maybe they can inherit one, they were young at the time, now I don't worry much about this. The other reason is because of what Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto said...

“You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.”

I would not want to disappoint him. Now my point is.. isn't that an example of the US people having sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence or at least an example of firearm ownership thwarting an invasion. I guess in short I agree with the quotes. I just think it is futile/pointless, I view it as more of an insurance policy that probably would fail if ever exercised.

What think THR?

 

[68wj]

While on the subject of bogus quotes, Yamamoto didn't say that either.

 

[MistWolf]

Your question shouldn't be if there are arms enough but whether we are disciplined enough

 

[infmp32]

Your question shouldn't be if there are arms enough but whether we are disciplined enough

Very much so. If a population is determined to resist, it doesn't take the entire nation being equipped like a light infantry platoon to accomplish their goal. It could easily be done with bolt actions and .30-30 lever guns if enough are determined to continue fighting. Guerrilla warfare has a tendency to demoralize and undermine an occupation.

 

[DeepSouth]

While on the subject of bogus quotes, Yamamoto didn't say that either.

Well, how bout that. I've heard that quote more times than I could count, even before the internet. I still wouldn't want to disappoint anyone with that thinking.

Your question shouldn't be if there are arms enough but whether we are disciplined enough

I disagree, I think we all already know that answer... unfortunately.

 

[Murphy4570]

Disciplined enough? Pshaw. You can easily weed out the dreamers from the go-getters by seeing who can finish a 1 mile run in the normal time of around 10-11 minutes.

That easy little test right there would probably disqualify a whole heaping pile of folks from militia service.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Washington meant that the country needed domestic arms manufacturers so that the new nation would not be dependant on France or some other country to supply them.
France supplied thousands of Charlivel muskets and something like 90 percent of the black powder used in the American Revolution.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

While on the subject of bogus quotes, Yamamoto didn't say that either

While it is possible to find proof that a person did say some particular thing,it is virtually impossible to prove they didn't say a particular thing.

 

[Danb1215]

Yamamoto quote = fake
Washington's "firearms are the people's libertys teeth" quote = fake
There are a few supposedly by Jefferson that I can't come up with off hand that are completely made up as well.


Short version - If you have a historical pro gun quote in your sig, check the validity. Quite a few will be surprised.


Edit: "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government" - Jefferson (Also fake)

 

[Sam Cade]

While it is possible to find proof that a person did say some particular thing,it is virtually impossible to prove they didn't say a particular thing.

Ok....

Which is why citations are important. Yamamato could not have said it since he died in 1943.

The "Blade of Grass" is usually traced back to a postwar meeting of US and Japanese naval officers ca.1960

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/05/misquoting-yamamoto/

 

[infmp32]

While it is possible to find proof that a person did say some particular thing,it is virtually impossible to prove they didn't say a particular thing.

Which is why we don't try to prove negatives. I could say Washington was quoted at Trenton as saying "Let's pop some caps in those Hessians, yo!" It's on me to prove he did say it, not on anyone else to prove he didn't say it.

 

[azmjs]

There seems to be a very thriving cottage industry among some gun people and 'libertarians' of inventing and repeating painfully obviously bogus quotes by the founding fathers.

It's gotten to the point where there's the real history of the country and then the parallel imaginary history that they prefer to believe, and can't distinguish from the real thing

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Which is why we don't try to prove negatives

That is because it is virtually impossible to do and was the point I was making.