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WHAT THE FOUNDING
FATHERS SAID ABOUT THE SECOND AMENDMENT This is part 1 of 3
parts of this article. George Washington's address to the second session of the U.S. Congress: "Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty, teeth and keystone under independence. The church, the plow, the prairie wagon and the citizen’s firearms are indelibly related. From the hour the pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurrences and tendencies prove that, to ensure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable. Every corner of this land knows firearms, and more than 99 and 99/100 percent of them by their silence indicate that they are in safe and sane hands. The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil influence. They deserve a place of honor with all that’s good. When firearms go, all goes. We need them every hour." Thomas Paine 1775: The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand, arms like laws discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. The balance of power is the scale of peace. 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 of the world deprived the use of them; the weak would become prey to the strong." Patrick Henry 1775: "They tell us that we are weak, unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Three million people, armed in the Holy cause of liberty, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us." Thomas Jefferson 1776: "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government . . . . No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms in his own lands." (Reprinted from an
article by Scott Craig Jones, |