“Our God given unalienable rights are given to us all as individuals. They tell us what we may do for ourselves, and they are the embodiment of liberty.
The so-called rights that government gives to some of us are parcelled out to select groups as classes. They tell us what one class of people may require another to do for them, and they are the very essence of slavery.”— Perri Nelson, February 9, 2010
A bheil Gàidhlig agaibh?
Nothing will preserve it but downright force
Published Tue, Dec 22 2009 5:02 AM
Yesterday and this morning, The Patriot Post put two rather interesting quotes in my inbox.
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”
— Patrick Henry, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1778
What sort of “force” do you think Patrick Henry was talking about? Well to me it's obvious he was talking about the force of arms.
“[W]hereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it.”
— Federal Farmer, Antifederalist Letter, No.18
From these two quotes you can easily see that the founders believed that it was essential that the people be armed in order to preserve liberty. Last Wednesday we got another peek at this part of the character of our founders.
“One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.”
— Thomas Jefferson, letter to George Washington, 1796
Somehow I don't think it was solely for the purpose of hunting or sport shooting that Thomas Jefferson wanted his guns. After all, if that were the case surely he would hope to “have occasion for them.” Still, it is also true that he did enjoy using them for sport.
“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.”
— Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, 1785
Maybe it's time to take my guns out and give them a thorough cleaning?
“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, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, 1787
If you think about all of these quotes, sent by the Founders Quote Daily in just the last week or so, it should be clear that the founders believed that not only was the possession of firearms every man's right, it was also their duty. They found them to be necessary for the preservation of liberty – not just from foreign powers, but from their own government.
Beware when the government seeks to disarm you. They may cite pretty motives like reduction in violence – but violence is a part of the human condition and guns aren’t its source. They may tell you that the reduction in guns will reduce crime – but what predator likes to hunt armed prey? The principle reason for disarming the people is simply to enforce a tyranny.
Don’t let them take your best means of defense against tyranny away. And let us all hope as with Thomas Jefferson to never have the occasion to need them.
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