“Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress has no power to disarm the militia. Their swords and every terrible implement of the soldier are the birthright of Americans. The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments but where, I trust in God, it will always remain, in the hands of the people.”
-Tench Coxe
“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
“The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles.”
-Jeff Cooper
“When the sword of rebellion is drawn, the sheath should be thrown away.”
-John Singleton Copley
“What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.”
-Thomas Jefferson
“I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials.”
– George Mason
“There is no position which depends on clearer principles, than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid.”
-Alexander Hamilton
“None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing
army. To keep ours armed and disciplined is therefore at all times important.”
-Thomas Jefferson
“The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country”
-George S. Patton
“How soon we forget history … Government is not reason. Government is not eloquence. It is force. And, like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”
-George Washington
