What the Framers said about our Second AmendmentRights to Keep and Bear Arms“I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials.”— George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788“Whereas civil-rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as military forces, which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed by the article in their right to keep and bear their private arms.”– Tench Coxe, in Remarks on the First Part of the Amendments to the Federal Constitution“The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.”– Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-188If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no recourse left but in the exertion of that original right of self-defense which is paramount to all positive forms of government, and which against the usurpations of the national rulers may be exerted with infinitely better prospect of success than against those of the rulers of an individual State. In a single State, if the persons entrusted with supreme power become usurpers, the different parcels, subdivisions, or districts of which it consists, having no distinct government in each, can take no regular measures for defense. The citizens must rush tumultuously to arms, without concert, without system, without resource; except in their courage and despair.– Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 28
via A Treasury of Quotes About Our 2nd Amendment | Jen Kuznicki.
Related articles
