Quotes made by the writers of the constitution that are pro self-defense...
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Travis McGee
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Go to the "links of interest" page on my website (below). You will find some great pro RKBA sites full of quotes, such as Joe Brower's RKBA Cafe.
Watch out for some often-repeated but proven bogus quotes, such as a couple by Hitler and Jefferson that they never said, but will not die!
Watch out for some often-repeated but proven bogus quotes, such as a couple by Hitler and Jefferson that they never said, but will not die!
Baba Louie
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"And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms....." Samuel Adams, United States Congress, Bill of Rights Ratification, 1779
"It is because the people are citizens that they are with safety armed. The danger (where there is any) from armed citizens, is only to the government, not to the society." Joel Barlow: Equality in America, 1792
"No free government was ever founded, or ever preserved its liberty, without uniting the characters of citizen and soldier in those destined for the defense of the State. Such are a well regulated Militia, composed of the freeholders, citizen, and husbandman; who take up arms to preserve their property, as individuals, and their rights as freemen." James Madison, United States Congress, Bill of Rights Ratification, 1779
"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 the use of them." Thomas Paine, 1775.
"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." Noah Webster, "An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution" (1787)
"To disarm the people - that was the best and most effective way to enslave them ...." George Mason ( Framer of the Declaration of Rights, Virginia, 1776, which became the basis for the U.S. Bill of Rights ) 3 Elliot, Debate at 380.
"The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them." Zachariah Johnson, 3 Elliot, Debate at 646
"The great object is that every man be armed" and "everyone who is able may have a gun." Patrick Henry, in the Virginia Convention on the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
"The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." Alexander Hamilton
"That the said Constitution shall never be 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, "Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer", August 20, 1789
"No Freeman shall be debarred the use of arms in his own lands or tenements." Thomas Jefferson, from the Virginia Constitution, Third Draft
"the people are confirmed by the next article [the Second Amendment] in their right to keep and bear their private arms." Trench Coxe in "Remarks on the First Part of the Amendments to the Federal Constitution", under the pseudonym "A Pennsylvanian" in the Philadelphia Federal Gazette, 18 June 1789
"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 UAS, 471 (1788)
"It is because the people are citizens that they are with safety armed. The danger (where there is any) from armed citizens, is only to the government, not to the society." Joel Barlow: Equality in America, 1792
"No free government was ever founded, or ever preserved its liberty, without uniting the characters of citizen and soldier in those destined for the defense of the State. Such are a well regulated Militia, composed of the freeholders, citizen, and husbandman; who take up arms to preserve their property, as individuals, and their rights as freemen." James Madison, United States Congress, Bill of Rights Ratification, 1779
"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 the use of them." Thomas Paine, 1775.
"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." Noah Webster, "An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution" (1787)
"To disarm the people - that was the best and most effective way to enslave them ...." George Mason ( Framer of the Declaration of Rights, Virginia, 1776, which became the basis for the U.S. Bill of Rights ) 3 Elliot, Debate at 380.
"The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them." Zachariah Johnson, 3 Elliot, Debate at 646
"The great object is that every man be armed" and "everyone who is able may have a gun." Patrick Henry, in the Virginia Convention on the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
"The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." Alexander Hamilton
"That the said Constitution shall never be 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, "Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer", August 20, 1789
"No Freeman shall be debarred the use of arms in his own lands or tenements." Thomas Jefferson, from the Virginia Constitution, Third Draft
"the people are confirmed by the next article [the Second Amendment] in their right to keep and bear their private arms." Trench Coxe in "Remarks on the First Part of the Amendments to the Federal Constitution", under the pseudonym "A Pennsylvanian" in the Philadelphia Federal Gazette, 18 June 1789
"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 UAS, 471 (1788)
Harry Tuttle
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www.RKBA.org has a great quote file
i'm also interested in public statements, by the framers, that they made back home after the convention/ratification
i saw one wherein a framer said:
"oh, and the people have the right to bear arms"
Plain english statements made to the locals should be less flowery
and more direct.
The framers home newspapers prolly printed some sort of a synopis.
i'm also interested in public statements, by the framers, that they made back home after the convention/ratification
i saw one wherein a framer said:
"oh, and the people have the right to bear arms"
Plain english statements made to the locals should be less flowery
and more direct.
The framers home newspapers prolly printed some sort of a synopis.
geekWithA.45
Moderator Emeritus
You might want to reference this: http://www.constitution.org/mil/rkba1982.htm
The Right to Keep and Bear Arms
REPORT
of the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE CONSTITUTION
of the
UNITED STATES SENATE
NINETY-SEVENTH CONGRESS
Second Session
February 1982
The Right to Keep and Bear Arms
REPORT
of the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE CONSTITUTION
of the
UNITED STATES SENATE
NINETY-SEVENTH CONGRESS
Second Session
February 1982
Completely lifted out of context.
The full quote is as follows:
"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, countries 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, A Defence of the Constitutions of the United States 475 (1787-1788)
DigitalWarrior
Member
I like the knowledge, but I have an honest question.
According to the full John Adams quote is taking up arms "by partial orders of towns, countries or districts of a state" repugnant to liberty or not?
It originally looked like that phrase was grouped with "except in private self-defense". On second glance it appears to me to be of "individual discretion".
With that logic it sounds as if he would have supported the North in the Civil War.
I do wonder what happens to the duty of the militia to be in support of laws when those laws are contrary to the laws of God, man, and Nature.
According to the full John Adams quote is taking up arms "by partial orders of towns, countries or districts of a state" repugnant to liberty or not?
It originally looked like that phrase was grouped with "except in private self-defense". On second glance it appears to me to be of "individual discretion".
With that logic it sounds as if he would have supported the North in the Civil War.
I do wonder what happens to the duty of the militia to be in support of laws when those laws are contrary to the laws of God, man, and Nature.
Baba Louie
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The snip I've taken "out of context" is indeed taken from the longer "well-regulated" (as I call it) statement... but in so stating the preface clause, "except in self defense"... which was (I thought) Dorian's original thread intent, seems to qualify an individuals right to KABA...
Awkward I know, but taken from an original statement which when left to its entirety gives one pause to consider the legality of any KABA laws, be they partial orders, of towns, county or district if left to "individual discretion"... in fact, that would be anarchy or sedition or whatever you want to call Gun Control for the Common Good of the State... with the exception of "self defense".
So, even tho the snippet is taken out of context, Mr. J. Adams, does seem to imply that an individual has some right to KABA for "self defense"... no?
Please correct the error of my ways. I am blind till others make me see here.
Awkward I know, but taken from an original statement which when left to its entirety gives one pause to consider the legality of any KABA laws, be they partial orders, of towns, county or district if left to "individual discretion"... in fact, that would be anarchy or sedition or whatever you want to call Gun Control for the Common Good of the State... with the exception of "self defense".
So, even tho the snippet is taken out of context, Mr. J. Adams, does seem to imply that an individual has some right to KABA for "self defense"... no?
Please correct the error of my ways. I am blind till others make me see here.
45crittergitter
Member
I have more than can be posted here. Email me and I will be happy to send. goodbet2001 at juno.com
Adams' 18th Century style sounds odd and maybe confusing to our ears.
He is saying that privately-owned weapons in the hands of citizens to be used at individual discretion undermines the rule of law and enjoyment of liberty. It is anarchy. He makes two exceptions: self defense and by "partial order" of political districts.
He is not praising "individual discretion," but condemning it.
No, it is not.
An excellent question, one not answered here by Adams.
Yes, but quoting someone out of context is intellectually dishonest. It's a tactic used by the likes of Michael Moore and Michael Bellesiles. There are so many other, better words of the Founders which embrace self-defense.
He is saying that privately-owned weapons in the hands of citizens to be used at individual discretion undermines the rule of law and enjoyment of liberty. It is anarchy. He makes two exceptions: self defense and by "partial order" of political districts.
He is not praising "individual discretion," but condemning it.
No, it is not.
An excellent question, one not answered here by Adams.
Yes, but quoting someone out of context is intellectually dishonest. It's a tactic used by the likes of Michael Moore and Michael Bellesiles. There are so many other, better words of the Founders which embrace self-defense.
RobW
Member
Doesn't matter anyway. The assault on the Constitution continues and is VERY successful.
Pessimistic? Naa, realistic. We are subjects already.
Pessimistic? Naa, realistic. We are subjects already.
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