Laws that forbid the carrying of arms… disarm
only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. - Cesare Beccaria, 18th Century Italian Criminologist
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms,
shall not be infringed. - The Constitution of the United States, Amendment II.
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. - Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, 3rd
President of the United States
(Americans have) the advantage of being armed—which the(y) possess over the people of (Europe where) the governments
are afraid to trust the people with arms. - James Madison 4th president of the United States
To disarm the people (is) the best and most effective way to enslave them. - George Mason, the father of the Bill of Rights
(The Constitution should) never be construed to infringe the just liberty of the press or right of conscience; or to prevent
the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms. - Samuel Adams Organizer of the Boston
Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence
One of the ordinary modes, by which tyrants accomplish their purpose without resistance is, by disarming the people, and
making it an offense to keep arms…- Joseph Story, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Arms like laws discourage and keep the plunderer in awe, and preserve the world. - Thomas Paine
The great object is that every man be armed… Everyone who is able may have a gun. - Patrick "Give me liberty or give
me death" Henry
I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.
--John Wayne from The Shootist
(Those) who are trying to read the Second Amendment out of the Constitution by claiming it's not an individual right (are)
courting disaster by encouraging others to use the same means to eliminate portions of the Constitution they don't like. -
Alan Dershowitz, Harvard Law School
They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin "1759"