--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are good citizens, and we cannot…" description: "\"We are good citizens, and we cannot protect ourselves because you allow the criminals to run wild. ... I'd like you to come and live in the inner city ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/jesse-lee-peterson-5122_amendment_we-are-good-citizens-and-we-cannot-prote_2993295.jpg" --- # We are good citizens, and we cannot protect ourselves… ![“We are good citizens, and we cannot protect ourselves because you allow the criminals to run wild. ... I'd like you to come and live in the inner city for a week and see the importance of having a weapon. ... Go after the criminals and not the good people.” quote by Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/jesse-lee-peterson-5122_amendment_we-are-good-citizens-and-we-cannot-prote_2993295.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/jesse-lee-peterson-5122_amendment_we-are-good-citizens-and-we-cannot-prote_2993295.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/jesse-lee-peterson-5122_amendment_we-are-good-citizens-and-we-cannot-prote_2993295.jpg) > “We are good citizens, and we cannot protect ourselves because you allow the criminals to run wild. ... I'd like you to come and live in the inner city for a week and see the importance of having a weapon. ... Go after the criminals and not the good people.” [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates for armed self‑defense, claiming personal safety depends on weapon ownership and targeting criminals over law‑abiding citizens **In simple terms:** Gun ownership is essential for protecting oneself against crime Key Takeaway Consider responsible self‑defense measures Themes self‑defense gun rights urban safety Mood defensive controversial Type political social When to use this quote - neighborhood patrol - personal security training - community watch programs Key Concepts personal responsibility crime deterrence Questions to Reflect On - What are alternative ways to improve safety without firearms? - How does armed self‑defense affect community trust? A Different Perspective May increase violence and escalation; not all citizens can responsibly handle firearms ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allow Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allow-criminals-4715124/) [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizens Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-protect-2966929/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Criminals Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals-good-569147/) [Good citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-citizen/) [Good citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-citizens/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance/) [Inner city](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-city/) [Like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-you/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Weapon Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapon-criminals-4715125/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [The plain fact is that education is itself a form of propaganda - a deliberate scheme to outfit the pupil, not with the capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-plain-fact-is-that-education-is-itself-a-form-of-propaganda-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-zealously-performing-the-duties-of-good-citizens-and/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/bad-men-cannot-make-good-citizens-it-is-when-a-people-forget-god-that/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [The whole idea of a public education was to train young people about how our system of government works, so they could be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/the-whole-idea-of-a-public-education-was-to-train-young-people-about/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [A mob is the method by which good citizens turn over the law and the government to the criminal or irresponsible classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stannard-baker/a-mob-is-the-method-by-which-good-citizens-turn-over-the-law-and-the/) [Ray Stannard Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stannard-baker/) > [Qualities of Good Citizens... is to admire what others have created in love and faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/qualities-of-good-citizens-is-to-admire-what-others-have-created-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bad men cannot make good citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/bad-men-cannot-make-good-citizens/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [We need to become good citizens in the global village, instead of competing. What are we competing for - to drive more cars, eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuan-t-lee/we-need-to-become-good-citizens-in-the-global-village-instead-of/) [Yuan T. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuan-t-lee/) > [As young Americans, you have an important responsibility, which is to become good citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-young-americans-you-have-an-important-responsibility-which-is-to/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Ants are good citizens; they place group interest first. But they carry it so far, they have few or no political rights. An ant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-day/ants-are-good-citizens-they-place-group-interest-first-but-they-carry/) [Clarence Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-day/) > [We are persuaded that good Christians will always be good citizens, and that where righteousness prevails among individuals the Nation will be great and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/we-are-persuaded-that-good-christians-will-always-be-good-citizens/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Bad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/bad-men-cannot-make-good-citizens-a-vitiated-state-of-morals-a/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [A college should feel alarmed rather than pleased if it graduates nothing but good citizens. For when the body politic is composed of nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-boas/a-college-should-feel-alarmed-rather-than-pleased-if-it-graduates/) [George Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-boas/) > [ They \[Mc Donalds\] take people and give them a first job, which enables them to get a second job. They do a very good… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/they-mc-donalds-take-people-and-give-them-a-first-job-which-enables/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [We pay a price when we deprive children of the exposure to the values, principles, and education they need to make them good citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/we-pay-a-price-when-we-deprive-children-of-the-exposure-to-the-values/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) ## More by Jesse Lee Peterson > [Blacks abandoned morals, fathers, and real belief in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/blacks-abandoned-morals-fathers-and-real-belief-in-god/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [When I was growing up in Alabama in the '50s, even though we were poor and the laws were against blacks, we still had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/when-i-was-growing-up-in-alabama-in-the-50s-even-though-we-were-poor/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [I can't imagine Christ being weak and carrying on about his burdens to women, let alone an Oprah type of woman. We respect and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/i-can-t-imagine-christ-being-weak-and-carrying-on-about-his-burdens/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [The Obamacare roll-out was an epic failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/the-obamacare-roll-out-was-an-epic-failure/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [Neither the SPLC, the liberal media, nor the Democratic Party has any authority on what constitutes 'hate.' They themselves are full of lies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/neither-the-splc-the-liberal-media-nor-the-democratic-party-has-any/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [Blacks should feel fortunate to be citizens of this country. We are blessed, not enslaved, and those who say otherwise are enslaved only by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/blacks-should-feel-fortunate-to-be-citizens-of-this-country-we-are/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [The Democrats are evil, and they crave power. They're willing to destroy any decent man or woman to attain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/the-democrats-are-evil-and-they-crave-power-they-re-willing-to/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [Anger is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/anger-is-evil/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [News flash to black Americans: Barack Obama has never loved you, and by now, it should be clear to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/news-flash-to-black-americans-barack-obama-has-never-loved-you-and-by/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [There are a few blacks who have the courage to speak honestly about immorality within the black culture, and whites should work with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/there-are-a-few-blacks-who-have-the-courage-to-speak-honestly-about/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [To own up to one's lack of courage and shortcoming without excuses is courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/to-own-up-to-one-s-lack-of-courage-and-shortcoming-without-excuses-is/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [Democrats know 'racism' doesn't exist, but they use it to silence white conservatives and to instill fear in blacks and motivate them to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/democrats-know-racism-doesn-t-exist-but-they-use-it-to-silence-white/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [As a result of the absence and weakness of black men, blacks have allowed every ungodly thing to influence their communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/as-a-result-of-the-absence-and-weakness-of-black-men-blacks-have/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [Males raised and nurtured on mama's 'love' resent the need that they have for women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/males-raised-and-nurtured-on-mama-s-love-resent-the-need-that-they/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [Most people's problems start as children when their parents, especially mothers, cause them to become angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/most-people-s-problems-start-as-children-when-their-parents/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) [Explore all 103 Jesse Lee Peterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) ## 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. 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