Gun Quotes : Founding Fathers

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  • “Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples’ liberty’s teeth.” ~ George Washington
  • “A free people ought to be armed.”~ George Washington
  • "The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good" ~ George Washington
  • "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." ~ Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-188
  • "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. 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" ~ Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
  • "As to the species of exercise, I advise the gun. While this gives [only] moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion to your walks." ~ Thomas Jefferson, writing to his teenaged nephew.
  • "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."~ Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.
  • “Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” ~ Benjamin Franklin, 1759
  • “Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion in private self defense.” ~ John Adams
  • “Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.” ~ William Pitt, Nov. 18, 1783
  • "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined." ~ Patrick Henry, speech of June 5 1788
  • “The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.” ~ James Madison
  • "To disarm the people... was the best and most effectual way to enslave them." ~ George Mason, speech of June 14, 1788
  • "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
  • “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

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