[W]hereas, 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; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion.
The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it.
Richard Henry Lee, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788
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You cannot have the First without the Second.
It is more important now than ever. The first item on Hitler’s list was disarming the population. Obama has the same goal. Once disarmed, the population will be fully at his whims.
Absolutely. When the people fear the government we have tryanny. When the government fear the people, you have freedom. Simple equation. Whatever the government can give you, it can and will take away according to their whims and their greed.
The citizens having the right to possess arms keeps the tyrants from enslaving the citizens.
I DO! The 2d Amendment protects WE, THE PEOPLE, from tyranny. Maybe it’s getting time to think about it even more………..
@Greg – I think he may try, but the 2d Amendment is etched in stone and payed for with blood! They can try to legislate gun ownership, but they will get them from us!
A quote from Sarah Brady (Handgun Control Inc) should settle this question: “Our main agenda is to have ALL guns banned. We must use whatever means possible. It doesn’t matter if you have to distort facts or even lie. Our task of creating a socialist America can only succeed when those who would resist us have been totally disarmed.”
Our government should be afraid of us, We should not be afraid of our government.
Sarah Brady is reactionary at best, or self aggrandizing at worst. It was already against the law for Hinkley to have had a gun, and that didn’t stop him. How ridiculously stupid it is to think that a ban on guns will keep them out of the hands of the bad guy.
All that aside. To keep and bear arms is an inalienable right, and that means it is unalterable. It is not a right because it is in the Bill of Rights. It is in the Bill of Rights because it is a right.
The Second Amendment secures ALL amendments. And the Constitution.
yes i agree a man without a Gun is a man without rights by nature a man must have a gun down through the ages man has had always a way to defend himself and protect his family and provide for his family
David. That was so eloquent, I had to borrow it.
Would that the safe handling, operation, and responsiblity of firearm possession were taught along with moral and ethical principles. But because of the “liberal intolerence” none will come about, unless we make ourselves known by our voices, our means, and our votes.
I can see how having arms protects you from criminals but how do they protect us from government? For example, let’s say, just for the sake of argument, the feds suspend the constitution and declare martial law due to a threat of terrorism. What good do guns do? (remember, big brother is watching, so be careful with your answers)
How do you think? When pushed too far, who knows how an armed population would react. If I were a statist politician, I wouldn’t want to find out.
To be clear, this is the LAST resort of a population under siege from it’s own government. As long as the political system continues to function, I believe we’re nowhere near close to needing “second amendment remedies.”
There’s also the issue of foreign enemies held at bay by the thought of a fully armed counter insurgency. The Chinese have millions of soldiers, but, in addition to the world’s finest military, we have 80,000,000 armed citizens. Whatcha gonna do?
Guns are great tools that help keep everyone honest and respectful
Tacticool22, I’ve been called a lot of things, but eloquent…, well, that’s a first. Thanks.
Yes, it is true today; especially the part regarding teaching the younger people proper care, maintenance, and use of the much more powerful arms of today; not, because “the British are coming”,or “the Russians are coming”, but because the broader the population and community becomes the greater the statistical chances (even the opportunity) for increasing personally dangerous events in one’s home and one’s community may arise. While the primary invasion of the U.S. is not from more organized competitive countries and their armies, but from more anathema based ideological invasions and uncontrolled destructive and subversive immigration.
I think it should always be a RIGHT, except for criminals and those who are mentally unstable.
Dan, I couldn’t have said it better myself.
True ! Politicians are more corrupt than ever.
TFP, I understand what you are saying about protecting ourselves and our families from the government. And I understand that they would try and use that for a reason to suspend the Constitution. But, they (the government) have NO POWER to suspend the Constitution. There is not an allowance in the Constitution for such nonsense. It is also ridiculous to think that suspending the Constitution would be of any help in fighting against a terrorism threat. Quite the contrary. If ever we need our rights, it would be then. I trust the people, not the politicians.
On the criminals and mentally unstable, two questions…do you believe once they have served their time they shouldn’t be allowed to defend themselves? On the mentally unstable, how hard would it be to declare say the “tea partiers” as mentally unstable?
The re-education camps are full of “mentally unstable” dissidents. Why not?
The feds cannot suspend the constitution and declare martial law due to a threat of terrorism. The Supreme Court has ruled that martial Law is constitutional only when the civil authority cannot operate. If it’s possible for the civilian courts be open, functioning and administering criminal justice in accordance with the law, then it would be a gross usurpation of power.
We have not been able to legally exercise our right to bear arms in America for a very long time. We are imprisoned if we maintain the types of arms which would allow us to defend ourselves against the standing army (I’m not even talking about tanks and bombers, just fully-automatic high capacity small arms). The ability of the people to effectively defend themselves in this manner was the whole point of enshrining this right in the Constitution.
Our only hope at this point is that the military and police will stand down when the people finally exercise their right to alter their form of government. This is why groups like the Oath Keepers are so important. They help to ensure that peaceful revolution and resistance may still stand a chance against the violent force of The State.
Go to http://www.teapartygroundzero.com
Communication amongst like minded people will be what puts this Country back on track. This is not the time to be divided on little issues. This is the time to come together to make the big changes needed to Restore America back into Prosperity – Fee-markets – Personal Freedoms. So go now and invite your friends to http://www.teapartygroundzero.com the social site that will organize the Peoples voice across our Nation.
Every on of you who commented positively on this post should be a member of,or should join the NRA.
In 2011, NRA is the center of the civil rights struggle in America.
If you want to defeat these statists on this issue, speak with one big voice. It’s the only thing these politicians understand.
And yet there are still those who don’t think the second amendment provides for firearms to the individual. It’s so obvious that the only conclusion could be that they don’t really care about what the constitution says, but want to disarm the public so they can ride roughshod over our liberties.
This isn’t one of the Federalist Papers. This is one of Richard Henry Lee’s writings. Not the same.
@Jose, we also discuss the philosophy of our founders in addition to the Federalist Papers. Also Lee was an AntiFederalist.
And a wise man as well!
RHL – my 3rd cousin 8 times removed!
Lose our guns and we lose our freedom.
I decided to look up “promiscuously.” It means composed of all sorts of persons and things.
I have heard things about Illinois like that. It is unfortunate that they are playing games with the Constitution. The people there need to take back their state.
“The first maxim of a man who loves liberty, should be never to grant to rulers an atom of power that is not most clearly and indispensably necessary for the safety and well being of society.” R.H.Lee.
Nice to see a quote from Cousin Richard, my 3rd cousin 8x removed. heh.
Richard Henry Lee, the man responsible for initiating the movement towards American independence…the world’s greatest act of secession from the tyranny of a despotic government.
Something every American ought to know…
The Lee Resolution, presented to Congress on 7 Jun 1776 (seconded by John Adams):
Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.
That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.
<3
Oh so very shared.
One of my distant cousins.
Sure don’t sound like Hunting and target shooting is the intended purpose for the 2nd Amendment from Henry’s point of view. He is not expressing concern for attack from outside forces but from dominance by forces from within the government.
Bill, one of mine, too.
Yes, they were concerned about an oppressive government taking root, which is one reason they did not want a standing army. Our military behemoth is antithetical to the founders beliefs.
It’s why we were set up as a Republic, not a democracy. It’s also why we had a 10th Amendment in the constitution, which unfortunately has been superseded by the “for the General Welfare Clause” and the “Commerce Clause” which now are the means used by government to do “end runs” around our constitution when it doesn’t fit with the administration’s agenda. Time we took our country back folks, before we no longer recognize it for the country we originally created. Like Ben Franklin said when asked by a lady what kind of government the constitutional convention had given us, when he replied, ” a Republic mam if you can keep it!!!
i have an absolute mancrush on RHL.
Joe I must say I enjoy your post on gun control, thanks.
Richard Henry Lee, my great, great, great grandfather. Quite a patriot!