Home / Topics / Second Amendment Quotes

Second Amendment Quotes

Browse 278 quotes about Second Amendment.

Second Amendment Quotes

“If were going to change the laws, lets change them in ways which makes it easier to catch criminals, and yet at the same time protect the Second Amendment rights of our law-abiding citizens.”

Ifs Way Law Rights Citizens Easier Protect Criminals Amendments Abiding Second Amendment Law Abiding Citizen

Author:John Dingell

“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.”

“Im 100 percent behind the Second Amendment. I believe its not just a hunting right. Its a right for everyone to carry their weapons.”

Believe I Believe Behinds Weapons Percent Hunting Amendments Second Amendment

Author:Raul Labrador

“I do not accept that we cannot find a common sense way to preserve our traditions, including our basic second amendment freedoms and the rights of law abiding gun owners, while at the same time reducing the gun violence that unleashes so much mayhem on a regular basis.”

“Where I stand at is on the Second Amendment where the right to bear arms is not just for hunting and fishing and things like that. But it's the right of the American people to have a means of defense against a tyrannical government. So, sometimes you got to have that back-up plan.”

People Mean Sometimes Government Plans Arms Bears Defense Fishing Hunting Amendments Second Amendment Right To Bear Arms Hunting And Fishing

Author:Big Boi

“Nowhere else in the Constitution does a "right" attributed to "the people" refer to anything other than an individual right. What is more, in all six other provisions of the Constitution that mention "the people," the term unambiguously refers to all members of the political community, not an unspecified subset... The Second Amendment extends, prima facie, to all instruments that constitute bearable arms... The very text of the Second Amendment implicitly recognizes the pre-existence of the right and declares only that it "shall not be infringed."”

People Doe Law Political Politics Individual Term Community Existence Arms Members Six Constitution Instruments Amendments Provision Second Amendment Bearable

Author:Antonin Scalia

“[T]he enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table.... Undoubtedly some think that the Second Amendment is outmoded in a society where our standing army is the pride of our Nation, where well-trained police forces provide personal security, and where gun violence is a serious problem. That is perhaps debatable, but what is not debatable is that it is not the role of this Court to pronounce the Second Amendment extinct.”

“The Second Amendment reveals a profound principle of American government - the principle of civilian ascendency over the military.”

Men Government America Principles Military Profound Amendments Civilians Second Amendment American Government

Author:William O. Douglas

“...the people who talk most about the need to regulate guns are also usually the same people who know the least about them. Ask these gun prohibitionists about the Second Amendment and they'll usually mention hunting or sport shooting.”

People Knows Needs Asks Sports Gun Shooting Hunting Amendments Second Amendment

Book:Control: Exposing the Truth About Guns

Source: Control: Exposing the Truth About Guns

“The right of ordinary citizens to possess weapons is the most extraordinary, most controversial, and least understood of those liberties secured by Englishmen and bequeathed to their American colonists. It lies at the very heart of the relationship between the individual and his fellows, and between the individual and his government.”

Heart Government Lying Individual Liberty Citizens Weapons Ordinary Understood Fellows Extraordinary Englishmen Controversial Second Amendment Secured Ordinary Citizens Colonists

Book:To Keep and Bear Arms: The Origins of an Anglo-American Right

Source: To Keep and Bear Arms: The Origins of an Anglo-American Right

“It was during the eighteenth century - a period of boastful satisfaction with the nice balances within the English constitution - that Englishmen came to accept the Whig view of the utility of an armed citizenry. The armed citizen was not only affirmed to be protecting himself but, together with his fellows, provided the ultimate check on tyranny.”

Together Views Accepting Nice Century Balance Citizens Periods Ultimate Constitution Fellows Satisfaction Tyranny Checks Utility Englishmen Second Amendment Citizenry Armed Citizens

Author:Joyce Lee Malcolm

“I intend to dedicate my remaining time as president of the NRA to ensure that the Second Amendment is safe from Al Gore and all those who threaten it.”

President Safe Als Amendments Gore Second Amendment Nra

Author:Charlton Heston

“The Second Amendment, like the rest of the Bill of Rights, was meant to inhibit only the federal government, not the states. The framers, as The Federalist Papers attest (see No. 28), saw the state militias as forces that might be summoned into action against the federal government itself, if it became tyrannical.”

“The Second Amendment! It says you have the right to bear arms, or the right to arm bears, whatever the hell you want to do!”

Want Humor Funny Hell Arms Bears Amendments Second Amendment Right To Bear Arms

Author:Robin Williams

“A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power, and jealousy will instantly inspire the inclination, to resist the execution of a law which appears to them unjust and oppressive.”

“The Constitution, in addition to delegating certain enumerated powers to Congress, places whole areas outside the reach of Congress' regulatory authority. The First Amendment, for example, is fittingly celebrated for preventing Congress from "prohibiting the free exercise" of religion or "abridging the freedom of speech." The Second Amendment similarly appears to contain an express limitation on the government's authority.”

Firsts Whole Government Certain Example Exercise Speech Authority Areas Constitution Congress Limitation Amendments Freedom Of Speech First Amendment Second Amendment Preventing

Author:Clarence Thomas

“The Second Amendment to our Constitution is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed upon. Period.”

People Clear Arms Bears Periods Constitution Amendments Second Amendment Bearing Arms

Author:Donald Trump

“Are we at last brought to such an humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?”

“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”

“The great object is that every man be armed.”

Source: Patrick Henry in his speeches and writings and in the words of his contemporaries

“Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion... in private self-defense.”

“To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders of towns, counties or districts of a state, is to demolish every constitution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man; it is a dissolution of the government. The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.”

“Wherever standing armies are kept up, and when the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any color or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction.”

Source: Blackstone's Commentaries: With Notes of Reference to the Constitution and Laws, of the Federal Government of the United States, and of the Commonwealth of Virginia: With an Appendix to Each Volume, Containing Short Tracts Upon Such Subjects as Appeared Necessary to Form a Connecte

“I have no reason to suppose that he, who would take away my Liberty, would not when he had me in his Power, take away everything else.”

Reason Liberty No Reason Second Amendment

Book:Locke: Political Writings

Source: Locke: Political Writings

“That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience.”

“The Second Amendment is not really a right.”

Amendments Second Amendment

Author:Rosie O'Donnell

“....there is no end to observations on the difference between the measures likely to be pursued by a minister backed by a standing army, and those of a court awed by the fear of an armed people.”

People Ends Differences Standing Army Court Observation Ministers Pursued Second Amendment

Book:Political Disquisitions: Or, An Enquiry Into Public Errors, Defects, and Abuses

Source: Political Disquisitions: Or, An Enquiry Into Public Errors, Defects, and Abuses

“For an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.”

“The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered as the palladium of the liberties of a republic.”

Source: Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States: With a Preliminary Review of the Constitutional History of the Colonies and States, Before the Adoption of the Constitution

“Let us remind ourselves again that the Second Amendment of the US Constitution should be referred to as the Statute of Liberty.”

Should Liberty Constitution Amendments Second Amendment Statutes Us Constitution

Author:Jeff Cooper

“My view is that we have the Second Amendment rights to bear arms, and in this country my view is that we should not add new legistlation. I do not believe in new laws restricting gun ownership and gun use.”

Should Believe Country Use Law Views Rights Arms Bears Gun Add Amendments Ownership Second Amendment Right To Bear Arms Gun Ownership

Author:Mitt Romney

“Folks in the media ask at the behest of Democrats, "isn't it insensitive for us to do a Second Amendment rally following this terror attack?" Let me tell you something. I really don't view our job as being sensitive to Islamic terrorists.”

Jobs Asks Views Media Let Me Democrat Folks Terror Following Terrorist Sensitive Islamic Amendments Second Amendment Insensitive Terror Attacks

Author:Dalia Mogahed

“There's no way you are going to get rid of the Second Amendment, there's no way you're going to get rid of the First Amendment, and people have to understand how important this is. But I think when they see more and more killings, we have to figure out, of course what we are going to do about it. And I don't think the criminal justice system has an answer.”

People Thinking Way Firsts Important Courses Justice Answers Figures Killing Criminals Amendments First Amendment Second Amendment Justice System Criminal Justice Criminal Justice System

Author:Chuck Todd

“Whatever right the Second Amendment protects is not as important as it was 200 years ago... The government should deconstitutionalize the subject by repealing the embarrasing Amendment.”

Should Years Important Government Subjects Protect Years Ago Amendments Second Amendment Repealing

Author:George Will

“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

“A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives 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 your constant companion of your walks.”

“No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms.”

Use Arms Second Amendment Militia Bearing Arms Freeman Founding Fathers Gun 2 Amendment Founding Fathers Second Amendment Disarming Amendment 19 Amendment 4

Book:The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1771 - 1779, the Summary View, and the Declaration of Independence

Source: The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Correspondence 1771 - 1779, the Summary View, and the Declaration of Independence

“The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.”

Source: The portable Thomas Jefferson

“For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.”

People Wells Mean Security Military Gun Conservative Organized Nasty Second Amendment Militia Founding Fathers Gun Founding Fathers Second Amendment

Book:Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence

Source: Thomas Jefferson: Thoughts on War and Revolution : Annotated Correspondence

“One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.”

Source: Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, from the Papers of Thomas Jefferson

“It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others: or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own.”

Men May Values Freedom Liberty Cases Circumstances Conscience Every Man Invasion Freedom And Liberty Separation Of Church And State Second Amendment Separation Between Church And State

Author:Thomas Jefferson

“Then President [Barack] Obama went on to argue that a citizen`s Second Amendment rights can be restricted without being infringed, just like any other rights. There are limits on your free speech and on your right to privacy. But he also made another nuanced Constitutional argument, that the rights enshrined in the Second Amendment must be balanced alongside the others rights guaranteed by the Constitution.”

Made President Rights Citizens Limits Speech Argument Constitution Arguing Barack Privacy Amendments Balanced Free Speech Second Amendment President Barack Obama Right To Privacy

Author:Melissa Harris-Perry

“If you want a candidate to defend life and marriage and religious liberty and the Second Amendment and to appoint strong constitutionalists to the court, I'm the only candidate with that record. That's why conservatives are uniting behind our campaign. And if they want to continue with the attacks, that's their prerogative.”

Ifs Want Strong Religious Behinds Liberty Records Court Campaigns Candidates Amendments Second Amendment Prerogative Religious Liberty Uniting

Author:Ted Cruz

“Donald Trump is a staunch believer in the Second Amendment.”

Trump Believer Amendments Second Amendment

Author:Sean Hannity

“It's really easy for someone to say no one should have guns when they're guarded by people with MP-5s. It's a little bit different. I'm always mentioned in that article as well because I'm a staunch believer in the Second Amendment. I shoot virtually every weekend. I'm a big outdoorsman. I believe in all those traditions. And I believe it's important for people to be able to defend themselves.”

“If you hit minorities they're gonna blame conservatives, Second Amendment, guns, and the terrorists won't get their due credit. So from now on acts of terror, only hit white people, because hate crimes against them are permitted, and the media will play it up.”

People Ifs Play Hate White Media Crime Gun Blame Terror Credit Dues Terrorist Minorities Amendments Hate Crime Second Amendment Acts Of Terror

Author:Rush Limbaugh

“I think that for most of our history, there was a nuanced reading of the Second Amendment until the decision by the late Justice [Antoine] Scalia and there was no argument until then that localities and states and the federal government had a right, as we do with every amendment, to impose reasonable regulation.”

Thinking States Government Reading Justice Decision Late Argument Reasonable Amendments Regulation Federal Government Second Amendment Locality

Author:Hillary Clinton

“I believe we can have common sense gun safety measures consistent with the Second Amendment, and, in fact, what I have proposed is supported by 90 percent of the American people and more than 75 percent of responsible gun owners.”

People Believe Facts I Believe Common Percent Gun Responsible Safety Common Sense Consistent Owners Amendments Second Amendment Gun Owners Gun Safety

Author:Hillary Clinton

“Gun control means being able to hit your target. If I have a 'hot button' issue, this is definitely it. Don't even think about taking my guns. My rights are not negotiable, and I am totally unwilling to compromise when it comes to the Second Amendment.”

Ifs Thinking Mean Able Issues Rights Gun Hot Compromise Target Amendments Buttons Gun Control Unwilling Second Amendment

Author:Michael Badnarik

“That's what Donald Trump said when he starts talking about, "The Second Amendment people might have..." "You're not taking my guns. No matter who you appoint to the court, you're not taking my guns," is all it means, pure and simple. If everybody could just take a breath here and let's get back to who's really doing damage to our country.”

People Ifs Mean Said Country Matter Might Simple Talking Trump Pure Gun Breaths Court Our Country Damage Get Back Amendments Second Amendment

Author:Rush Limbaugh