Really interesting article on authenticity of Thomas Jefferson 2nd Amendment Quotes

[Al Thompson]

Looks like this one should best be handled through PMs at this point.

 

[Cosmoline]

It's a hit piece, but what else would you expect from CNN? They are forced to concede the authenticity of many of the quotes, but then go to outrageous lengths to discredit any idea that Jefferson could have been in favor of the RKBA. For example, the famous quote to Carr, they claim, was somehow linked to fear of slaves! You can read the letter yourself. It has nothing to do with worrying about Carr's protection from wandering escaped slaves, but addresses instead Jefferson's belief that shooting sports are an excellent pass-time for a young man.

"Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks."
Jefferson considered carrying a gun with him a great form of exercise, which he wrote in a 1785 letter to his 15-year-old nephew, Peter Carr. Just before this quote in the letter, he explains why: "While this gives a moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprize, and independance to the mind." (And, yes, those are Jefferson's spellings.)
As for why he would suggest bringing a gun on a walk, Cornell says Jefferson probably wasn't worried about crime. "His worry is most definitely about slave rebellion."
Ah another touchy topic for our contradictory third prez, who, in theory, wanted to free slaves, just not his own.

I don't know if Cornell actually tried to link those two concepts. I would hope not. I suspect it's another in the legion of examples of CNN's notorious bias. Cornell, though without doubt an anti, probably mentioned in some different context that Jefferson was no fan of the Haitian revolt during his administration. True, but totally irrelevant to the question of arms. He wanted no freedom for slaves, including the RKBA. That doesn't mean he didn't believe in the RKBA or that he believed in it solely to protect against slave revolts. Fat lot of good a 20 ga. fowler will do against an armed slave insurrection anyway.