“The Constitution shall never be construed… to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.” – Samuel Adams

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“…arms like laws discourage and keep the invader and the plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world 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….” – Thomas Paine

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“To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them…”- Richard Henry Lee

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“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.” – Noah Webster

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“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies.” – George Washington

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

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“The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes…. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” – Thomas Jefferson

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“I ask who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers.” – George Mason

“A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves …” – Richard Henry Lee

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“The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them.”- Zachariah Johnson

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No clause in the Constitution could by any rule of construction be conceived to give to congress a power to disarm the people.

William Rawle

 

Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself.

George Washington

 

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.

Thomas Jefferson

 

To disarm the people... was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.

George Mason

 

Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.

James Madison

 

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.

Thomas Jefferson

 

Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of 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 pretence, raised in the United States.

Noah Webster

 

The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subjugated races to possess arms.

Adolf Hitler

 

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

Patrick Henry

 

The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.

Alexander Hamilton

 

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

John Adams

 

Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest.

Mahatma Gandhi

 

A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies.

George Washington

 

Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.

Thomas Jefferson

 

I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.

Thomas Jefferson

 

...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.

Alexander Hamilton

 

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Benjamin Franklin