--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is long been a principal of ours that…" description: "\"It is long been a principal of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. The..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/jeff-cooper-3700_capable_it-is-long-been-a-principal-of-ours-that_1135838.jpg" --- # It is long been a principal of ours that one is no more… ![“It is long been a principal of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully.” quote by Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/jeff-cooper-3700_capable_it-is-long-been-a-principal-of-ours-that_1135838.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/jeff-cooper-3700_capable_it-is-long-been-a-principal-of-ours-that_1135838.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/jeff-cooper-3700_capable_it-is-long-been-a-principal-of-ours-that_1135838.jpg) > “It is long been a principal of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully.” [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Firearms require skill, just like any tool; ownership alone doesn't confer competence. **In simple terms:** Owning a gun isn’t enough; you need skill. Key Takeaway Practice and train responsibly. Themes responsibility skill tool mastery defense Mood serious pragmatic Type instructional cautionary When to use this quote - self‑defense - law enforcement - personal safety Key Concepts firearm proficiency skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - Are you trained in your tools? - What practice routine do you follow? A Different Perspective Skill takes time and resources to develop. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Armed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed/) [Armed Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed-possession-3142574/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Firearm Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firearm-musician-3142575/) [Firearms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firearms/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Having Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-gun-275971/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [No point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-point/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Possession Firearm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession-firearm-3142576/) [Principal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principal/) ## Related quotes > [An armed man, especially if he is armed with a firearm, is dangerous as long as he is conscious. Take no chances. Put him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/an-armed-man-especially-if-he-is-armed-with-a-firearm-is-dangerous-as/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Never assume that simply having a gun makes you a marksman. You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/never-assume-that-simply-having-a-gun-makes-you-a-marksman-you-are-no/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [For an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/for-an-unarmed-man-may-be-attacked-with-greater-confidence-than-an/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/laws-that-forbid-the-carrying-of-arms-disarm-only-those-who-are/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I don’t know why liberals want to disarm the law-abiding population, but I do know that not a single argument proffered stands the light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/i-don-t-know-why-liberals-want-to-disarm-the-law-abiding-population/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [I ask the question all the time of people that are on the anti-gun side. And I say, OK, if you're in a situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/i-ask-the-question-all-the-time-of-people-that-are-on-the-anti-gun/) [Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/) > [The laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Can it be supposed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-beccaria/the-laws-that-forbid-the-carrying-of-arms-disarm-only-those-who-are/) [Cesare Beccaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-beccaria/) > [In the larger sense, however, the personal ownership of firearms is only secondarily a matter of defense against the criminal. Note the following from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/in-the-larger-sense-however-the-personal-ownership-of-firearms-is/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [At long last I have discovered that most shooters are not interested in firearms as tools, but rather as toys. Such people do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/at-long-last-i-have-discovered-that-most-shooters-are-not-interested/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [I have Glocks, .45s, Berettas, Remingtons. I like the marksmanship and the discipline that it takes to be a gun owner. I like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/i-have-glocks-45s-berettas-remingtons-i-like-the-marksmanship-and-the/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [“Could we report Tyler for having a gun?" she said. "He's over eighteen," said Chris. "It's probably legal." "It's not legal for him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/could-we-report-tyler-for-having-a-gun-she-said-he-s-over-eighteen/) [Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/) > [I've never played a character where I've had so much fun on the physical end. I don't want to say I like it too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-ross/i-ve-never-played-a-character-where-i-ve-had-so-much-fun-on-the/) [Charlotte Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-ross/) > [“When in the presence of a USA law enforcement, remember that sudden moves, running away, driving away, moving towards them, not following instructions, having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-in-the-presence-of-a-usa-law-enforcement-remember-that-sudden/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Compassionate conservative, that's like having a gun rack on a Volvo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/compassionate-conservative-that-s-like-having-a-gun-rack-on-a-volvo/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I'm OK with guns in schools, if it's a security, trained security personnel. But every teacher having a gun, I don't know if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/i-m-ok-with-guns-in-schools-if-it-s-a-security-trained-security/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) ## More by Jeff Cooper > [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/) > [It appears that the murder rate inside prisons is ten times higher than that outside prisons. It must be due to all those Kalashnikov…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/it-appears-that-the-murder-rate-inside-prisons-is-ten-times-higher/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Don't try to be fancy. Shoot for the center of mass. The world is full of decent people. Criminals we can do without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/don-t-try-to-be-fancy-shoot-for-the-center-of-mass-the-world-is-full/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Therefore, if you are attacked, retaliate instantly. Be sudden. Be quick. Speed is your salvation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/therefore-if-you-are-attacked-retaliate-instantly-be-sudden-be-quick/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Political correctness is neither political nor is it correct. It amounts to social censorship, and the sooner we spit it out, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/political-correctness-is-neither-political-nor-is-it-correct-it/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-rifle-itself-has-no-moral-stature-since-it-has-no-will-of-its-own/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [If violent crime is to be curbed, it is only the intended victim who can do it. The felon does not fear the police,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/if-violent-crime-is-to-be-curbed-it-is-only-the-intended-victim-who/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Any man who is a man may not, in honor, submit to threats or violence. But many men who are not cowards are simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/any-man-who-is-a-man-may-not-in-honor-submit-to-threats-or-violence/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Weapons compound man's power to achieve; they amplify the capabilities of both the good man and the bad, and to exactly the same degree,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/weapons-compound-man-s-power-to-achieve-they-amplify-the-capabilities/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [It has long been my conviction that a masked man with a gun is a target. I see no reason to change that view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/it-has-long-been-my-conviction-that-a-masked-man-with-a-gun-is-a/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [A fine marksman is with a second rate rifle is far more effective than the reverse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/a-fine-marksman-is-with-a-second-rate-rifle-is-far-more-effective/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [You better be looking for another pitcher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/you-better-be-looking-for-another-pitcher/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [It is true that a victim who fights back may suffer for it, but one who does not almost certainly will suffer for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/it-is-true-that-a-victim-who-fights-back-may-suffer-for-it-but-one/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [If a felon attacks you and lives, he will reasonably conclude that he can do it again. By submitting to him, you not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/if-a-felon-attacks-you-and-lives-he-will-reasonably-conclude-that-he/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/an-unarmed-man-can-only-flee-from-evil-and-evil-is-not-overcome-by/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) [Explore all 124 Jeff Cooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "It is long been a principal of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Cooper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/it-is-long-been-a-principal-of-ours-that-one-is-no-more-armed-because/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amendment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/it-is-long-been-a-principal-of-ours-that-one-is-no-more-armed-because/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/jeff-cooper-3700_capable_it-is-long-been-a-principal-of-ours-that_1135838.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/jeff-cooper-3700_capable_it-is-long-been-a-principal-of-ours-that_1135838.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/jeff-cooper-3700_capable_it-is-long-been-a-principal-of-ours-that_1135838.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is long been a principal of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he…” — Jeff Cooper", "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": "Jeff Cooper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is long been a principal...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/it-is-long-been-a-principal-of-ours-that-one-is-no-more-armed-because/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/it-is-long-been-a-principal-of-ours-that-one-is-no-more-armed-because/#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 } } ] } ```