Quotes From The Wise Ones

Our founding fathers and a few wise fellows that followed knew it was imperative that we were able to bear arms to protect ourselves from tyranny. Here are a few of their quotes:

Thomas Jefferson wrote "What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms."

George Mason said "To disarm the people -- that was the best and most effectual way to enslave them."

James Madison stated that tyrants were "afraid to trust the people with arms," and lauded "the advantage of being armed, which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation."

Elbridge Gerry said "What, sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty. Whenever governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins."

Noah Webster, the prominent political essayist who fought in the Revolutionary War, wrote: "Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States. 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."

Samuel Adams said "That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."

Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to George Washington- "One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them."

Thomas Jefferson is right on the money, I love my guns and I hope I never need to use one. But if the occasion rises, I will not hesitate.

Bob