I ask you sir, who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people. — George Mason Copy Share Image
To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms... — Richard Henry Lee Copy Share Image
The legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
For an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man. — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
To disarm the people... was the best and most effectual way to enslave them. — George Mason Copy Share Image
First Amendment freedoms are most in danger when the government seeks to control thought or to justify its laws for that impermissible… — Anthony Kennedy Copy Share Image
That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights… — John Adams Copy Share Image
If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no recourse left but in the exertion of that original… — Alexander Hamilton Copy Share Image
Wherever standing armies are kept up, and when the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any color… — St. George Tucker Copy Share Image
What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
...that standing army can never be formidable (threatening) to the liberties of the people, while there is a large body of citizens,… — Alexander Hamilton Copy Share Image
As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize,... The people are confirmed by… — Tench Coxe Copy Share Image
Militias, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves and include all men capable of bearing arms. [...] To preserve liberty… — Richard Henry Lee Copy Share Image
When the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British parliament was advised by an artful man [Sir William… — George Mason Copy Share Image
Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme… — Noah Webster Copy Share Image
Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
The laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Can it be… — Cesare Beccaria Copy Share Image
If gun laws in fact worked, the sponsors of this type of legislation should have no difficulty drawing upon long lists of… — Orrin Hatch Copy Share Image
To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders… — John Adams Copy Share Image
A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and… — Noah Webster Copy Share Image
Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation… Notwithstanding the military establishments… — James Madison Copy Share Image
Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man gainst his… — Tench Coxe Copy Share Image
If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the… — Louis D. Brandeis Copy Share Image
The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world not destitute of… — Thomas Paine Copy Share Image
The powers of the sword are in the hands of the yeomanry of America from sixteen to sixty. The militia of these… — Tench Coxe Copy Share Image
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the… — Thomas Jefferson Copy Share Image
Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe. — Noah Webster Copy Share Image
The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered as the palladium of the liberties of a… — Joseph Story Copy Share Image
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. — James Madison Copy Share Image
No clause in the Constitution could by any rule of construction be conceived to give to congress a power to disarm the… — William Rawle Copy Share Image
Arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe and preserve order... — Thomas Paine Copy Share Image
If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an… — William J. Brennan Copy Share Image
The Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or… — Samuel Adams Copy Share Image
O sir, we should have fine times, indeed, if, to punish tyrants, it were only sufficient to assemble the people! Your arms,… — Patrick Henry Copy Share Image
![“Militias, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves and include all men capable of bearing arms. [...] 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.” quote by Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4cf/richard-henry-lee-32108_2-amendment_militias-when-properly-formed-are-in-fac_1843730.jpg)
![“When the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British parliament was advised by an artful man [Sir William Keith], who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people. That it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them. But that they should not do it openly…” quote by George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ba9/george-mason-8435_2-amendment_when-the-resolution-of-enslaving-america_844300.jpg)
