--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our Founding Fathers were proud that…" description: "\"Our Founding Fathers were proud that Americans were trusted with arms because they knew that only when people are armed could they truly be thought of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/charley-reese-14592_amendment_our-founding-fathers-were-proud-that-ame_2611946.jpg" --- # Our Founding Fathers were proud that Americans were… ![“Our Founding Fathers were proud that Americans were trusted with arms because they knew that only when people are armed could they truly be thought of as free citizens. And that's where the circle closes. Those who want to deprive you of your right to keep and bear arms are intending to deprive…” quote by Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/charley-reese-14592_amendment_our-founding-fathers-were-proud-that-ame_2611946.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/charley-reese-14592_amendment_our-founding-fathers-were-proud-that-ame_2611946.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/charley-reese-14592_amendment_our-founding-fathers-were-proud-that-ame_2611946.jpg) > “Our Founding Fathers were proud that Americans were trusted with arms because they knew that only when people are armed could they truly be thought of as free citizens. And that's where the circle closes. Those who want to deprive you of your right to keep and bear arms are intending to deprive you of your freedom, period. Like the criminals their policies encourage, these elitists know that it is always best to disarm victims before you enslave them.” [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Armed citizens are seen as essential to freedom; disarming them is viewed as a path to tyranny. **In simple terms:** Gun ownership is linked to liberty; taking guns threatens freedom. Key Takeaway Defend the right to bear arms. Themes politics freedom rights gun control Mood serious controversial Type analytical persuasive When to use this quote - political rallies - constitutional debates - self‑defense training - community safety meetings Key Concepts individual liberty government overreach self‑defense Questions to Reflect On - What alternative measures could protect freedom without firearms? - How do cultural attitudes shape gun policy? A Different Perspective Complex social factors influence gun violence beyond armament. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Your freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-freedom/) ## Related quotes > [Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/are-we-at-last-brought-to-such-humiliating-and-debasing-degradation/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Americans who value freedom had better be more concerned about the gun control crowd than the criminals. The criminals want your money. The Neo-Totalitarians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/americans-who-value-freedom-had-better-be-more-concerned-about-the/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [“In a society where people have the status of "free citizens," it is important to ensure that all people have the same rights and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maitreya-maitreyan/in-a-society-where-people-have-the-status-of-free-citizens-it-is/) Maitreya Maitreyan > [There is as much difference between a collection of mentally free citizens and a community molded by modern methods of propaganda as there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-as-much-difference-between-a-collection-of-mentally-free/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Anything that shifts power from the individual judgment of free citizens to government is a bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/anything-that-shifts-power-from-the-individual-judgment-of-free/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [“Free is not how many of our citizens feel—with our overstocked medicine cabinets, burglar alarms, vast ghettos, and drug culture. Eighteen hundred New Yorkers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/free-is-not-how-many-of-our-citizens-feel-with-our-overstocked/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [“Free citizens of the United Kingdom can apparently vote for clowns, but not vote (dressed) as them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-mair/free-citizens-of-the-united-kingdom-can-apparently-vote-for-clowns/) [Eddie Mair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-mair/) > [One hundred years of delay have passed since President Lincoln freed the slaves, yet their heirs, their grandsons, are not fully free. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/one-hundred-years-of-delay-have-passed-since-president-lincoln-freed/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“the alleged clash between freedom and security, that is, a security guaranteed by the state, turns out to be a chimera. For there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-r-popper/the-alleged-clash-between-freedom-and-security-that-is-a-security/) [Karl R. Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-r-popper/) > [As free citizens in a political democracy, we have a responsibility to be interested and involved in the affairs of the human community, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wellstone/as-free-citizens-in-a-political-democracy-we-have-a-responsibility-to/) [Paul Wellstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wellstone/) > [And this Nation, for all its hopes and all its boasts, will not be fully free until all its citizens are free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/and-this-nation-for-all-its-hopes-and-all-its-boasts-will-not-be/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Liberty cannot be guaranteed by law. Nor by any thing else except the resolution of free citizens to defend their liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/liberty-cannot-be-guaranteed-by-law-nor-by-any-thing-else-except-the/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“An education is truly “fitted for freedom” only if it is such as to produce free citizens, citizens who are free not because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/an-education-is-truly-fitted-for-freedom-only-if-it-is-such-as-to/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [My gift to you will be to take away your freedom of choice for a while. Freedom can be very unhealthy and unproductive. Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-filipacchi/my-gift-to-you-will-be-to-take-away-your-freedom-of-choice-for-a/) [Amanda Filipacchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-filipacchi/) > [It is everyone's right to achieve this state of ones evolution and everything necessary is already inbuilt. But as I respect your freedom, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/it-is-everyone-s-right-to-achieve-this-state-of-ones-evolution-and/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) ## More by Charley Reese > [People who believe in gun control are ignorant, superstitious or stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/people-who-believe-in-gun-control-are-ignorant-superstitious-or-stupid/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Experience to a politician is like experience to a prostitute - not much to recommend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/experience-to-a-politician-is-like-experience-to-a-prostitute-not/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Unless they can pass the same test that immigrants must pass to become citizens, people shouldnt be allowed to vote. The idea that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/unless-they-can-pass-the-same-test-that-immigrants-must-pass-to/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Disregarding the value of religion and believing in egalitarianism are two misconceptions that cause America much trouble today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/disregarding-the-value-of-religion-and-believing-in-egalitarianism/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Crime is a human behavior problem, not a mechanical problem. Furthermore, if firearms were not very useful for self-defense, then police wouldn't carry them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/crime-is-a-human-behavior-problem-not-a-mechanical-problem/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Government is inherently incompetent, and no matter what task it is assigned, it will do it in the most expensive and inefficient way possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/government-is-inherently-incompetent-and-no-matter-what-task-it-is/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [A government that intended to protect the liberty of the people would not disarm them. A government planning the opposite most certainly and logically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/a-government-that-intended-to-protect-the-liberty-of-the-people-would/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [ \[N\]o American should retreat an inch on the right of jurors to acquit if they perceive the law or its administration to be unjust. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/n-o-american-should-retreat-an-inch-on-the-right-of-jurors-to-acquit/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [ \[Y\]ou cannot determine either the truth or the right or wrong of anything with a poll. You can only tabulate people's opinions. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/y-ou-cannot-determine-either-the-truth-or-the-right-or-wrong-of/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [If we could manage our own finances the way the Congress does the nation's, we'd all be living in high cotton and eating high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/if-we-could-manage-our-own-finances-the-way-the-congress-does-the/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [It is a foolish man who believes that the status quo can be maintained indefinitely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/it-is-a-foolish-man-who-believes-that-the-status-quo-can-be/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [There's no dishonor in being forced by a superior power into slavery, but it is an eternal disgrace to voluntarily surrender one's liberty for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/there-s-no-dishonor-in-being-forced-by-a-superior-power-into-slavery/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [We...are not really free if we can't control our own government and its policies. And we will never do that if we remain ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/we-are-not-really-free-if-we-can-t-control-our-own-government-and-its/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Credibility, like virginity, can only be lost once and never recovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/credibility-like-virginity-can-only-be-lost-once-and-never-recovered/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Given the low level of competence among politicians, every American should become a libertarian. The government that governs least is certainly the best choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/given-the-low-level-of-competence-among-politicians-every-american/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) [Explore all 46 Charley Reese quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) ## More Amendment quotes > [There are a lot of people who want to retain the Eighth Amendment - I don't agree with that view myself - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-want-to-retain-the-eighth-amendment-i/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [“Let's just make this easy. I'm in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would read something like this: 'Neither the federal government, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/let-s-just-make-this-easy-i-m-in-favor-of-a-constitutional-amendment/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [If you reduce the guns and the ammo, you'll reduce the murders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/if-you-reduce-the-guns-and-the-ammo-you-ll-reduce-the-murders/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Gun control laws don't work. What is worse, they act perversely. While legitimate users of firearms encounter intense regulation, scrutiny and bureaucratic control, illicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-polsby/gun-control-laws-don-t-work-what-is-worse-they-act-perversely-while/) Daniel D. Polsby > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Guns aren't the problem; sick people are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/guns-aren-t-the-problem-sick-people-are/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I don't think anybody who carries a rifle carries the future. Because I don't believe that you can really change the world by killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/i-don-t-think-anybody-who-carries-a-rifle-carries-the-future-because/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [“my folks wouldn't read a book if you put a gun to their dicks. but they read people all day long and always get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/my-folks-wouldn-t-read-a-book-if-you-put-a-gun-to-their-dicks-but/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [Anybody who pretends that how you read the 10th and 11th Amendment doesn't have a fundamental impact on the things we care about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/anybody-who-pretends-that-how-you-read-the-10th-and-11th-amendment/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Country lyrics often reference the NRA and firearms ownership as a way of life. Artists such as John Rich, Toby Keith, Sara Evans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/country-lyrics-often-reference-the-nra-and-firearms-ownership-as-a/) [Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/) > [“People who have attended Concealed Carry classes, and those already licensed, typically seem to demonstrate a higher degree of courtesy, responsibility and respect. Interestingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-behr/people-who-have-attended-concealed-carry-classes-and-those-already/) [Gary Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-behr/) [Browse all 2,041 Amendment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our Founding Fathers were proud that Americans were trusted with arms because they knew that only when people are armed could they truly be thought of as free citizens. And that's where the circle closes. Those who want to deprive you of your right to keep and bear arms are intending to deprive you of your freedom, period. Like the criminals their policies encourage, these elitists know that it is always best to disarm victims before you enslave them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charley Reese" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/our-founding-fathers-were-proud-that-americans-were-trusted-with-arms/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amendment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/our-founding-fathers-were-proud-that-americans-were-trusted-with-arms/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/charley-reese-14592_amendment_our-founding-fathers-were-proud-that-ame_2611946.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/charley-reese-14592_amendment_our-founding-fathers-were-proud-that-ame_2611946.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/charley-reese-14592_amendment_our-founding-fathers-were-proud-that-ame_2611946.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our Founding Fathers were proud that Americans were trusted with arms because they knew that only when…” — Charley Reese", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charley Reese", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our Founding Fathers were proud that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/our-founding-fathers-were-proud-that-americans-were-trusted-with-arms/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/our-founding-fathers-were-proud-that-americans-were-trusted-with-arms/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```