"A militia when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves." - Richard Henry Lee, Januar 25, 1788, Letters from the Federal Farmer to The Republican, 18
"Who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers." - George Mason, Virginia Ratification Convention, 1788
"What, sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty." - Rep. Edbridge Gerry, debating the Second Amendment, 1789
"But it ought always to be held prominently in view that the safety of these States and of everything dear to a free people must depend in an eminent degree on the militia. Invasions by be made too formidable to be resisted by any land and naval force which would comport either with the principles of our Government or the circumstances of the United States to maintain. In such cases recourse must be made to the treat body of the people, and in a manner to produce the best effect." - President James Madison's First Inaugural Address, 1817
"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, 1788
"No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms within his own lands or tenements." - Thomas Jefferson, Draft of the Virginia Constitution, 1776
"Arms in the hands of citizens (may) be used at individual discretion in private self defense" - John Adams, A Defense of the Constitutions of the Government of the United States of America, 1788
"No clause in the Constitution could by any rule of construction be conceived to give to congress a power to disarm the people," - William Rawle, A View of the Constitution, 1829
"To disarm the people (is) the best and most efficient way to enslave them" - George Mason, Virginia Ratification Convention, june 14, 1788
"But to be in conflict with the Constitution, it is not essential that the act should contain a prohibition against bearing arms in every possible form; it is the right to bear arms in defense of the citizens and the state, that is secured by the constitution, and whatever restrains the full and complete exercise of that right, though no an entire destruction of it, is forbidden by the explicit language of the constitution." - Kentucky Supreme Court, 1822
"Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family or class of men; therefore, whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the people may, and of right ought, to reform the old, or establish a new government. The doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind." - New Hampshire Constitution, 1784
"Congress shall never disarm any citizen unless such as are or have been in actual rebellion." - New Hampshire's request for a Bill of Rights, June 21, 1788
"A free people ought to be armed." - George Washington, speech of January 7, 1790, published in the Boston Independent Chronicle, January 14, 1790
"Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion of your walks." - Thomas Jefferson, 1785
(no reason for the smilie, just thought it looks cool)
