“By calling attention to 'a well regulated militia,' 'the security of the nation,' and the right of each citizen 'to keep and bear arms,' our founding fathers recognized the essentially civilian nature of our economy... The Second Amendment still remains an important declaration of our basic civilian-military relationships in which every citizen must be ready to participate in the defense of his country. For that reason I believe the Second Amendment will always be important.” BelieveWellsStillsImportantCountryReasonFatherI BelieveNationsAttentionEconomySecurityMilitaryReadyArmsBearsCitizensCallingGunRemainsDefenseAmendmentsGun ControlDeclarationFoundingCiviliansMiscellaneousSecond AmendmentOur Founding FathersRight To Bear ArmsMilitiaBearing ArmsGun RightsPro GunFounding Fathers GunHandgunsFounding Fathers Second AmendmentAnti Gun Author:John F. Kennedy
“No kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the people. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave. He, who has nothing, and who himself belongs to another, must be defended by him, whose property he is, and needs no arms. But he, who thinks he is his own master, and has what he can call his own, ought to have arms to defend himself, and what he possesses; else he lives precariously, and at discretion.” PeopleThinkingNeedsMastersArmsOughtGunPropertySlavePossessionKingdomsDistinctionGun ControlDiscretionSelf DefenseSecond AmendmentSecuredRight To Bear ArmsBearing ArmsGun RightsRights And FreedomsFreeman Book:Political Disquisitions Source: Political Disquisitions
“The people have a right to keep and bear arms.” PeopleArmsBearsGunAmendmentsGun ControlSecond AmendmentFirearmsRight To Bear ArmsMilitiaBearing ArmsGun RightsFounding Fathers GunHandguns2 AmendmentNraFounding Fathers Second AmendmentFramersGun OwnersAmendment 1Amending The ConstitutionHandgun BanGun Ban Author:Patrick Henry
“...that standing army can never be formidable (threatening) to the liberties of the people, while there is a large body of citizens, little if at all inferior to them in the use of arms.” PeopleIfsLittlesUseBodyLawLibertyArmsBearsCitizensGunStandingArmyAmendmentsInferiorsGun ControlThreateningFreedom And LibertySecond AmendmentFreedom LibertyFirearmsFormidableRight To Bear ArmsMilitiaBearing ArmsGun RightsFederalistFederalist PapersFounding Fathers GunHandguns2 AmendmentFounding Fathers Second AmendmentAnti GunAmendment 1Amending The ConstitutionAmendment 19Amendment 4Threats To Liberty Author:Alexander Hamilton
“The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world not destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside ... Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of them ... the weak will become prey to the strong.” WorldUseWould BeStrongHalfArmsBalanceGunWeakLaysDareScalesAmendmentsGun ControlPreyDeprivedMischiefSecond AmendmentFirearmsRight To Bear ArmsMilitiaBearing ArmsGun RightsOne HalfPro GunFounding Fathers GunDestitute2 AmendmentFounding Fathers Second AmendmentBalance Of PowerSelf DefenceAmendment 1Amendment 19Amendment 4Patriotic GunAmendment 13Weak Will Book:Selected Writings of Thomas Paine Source: Selected Writings of Thomas Paine