4th of july Quote by Richard Henry Lee

Militias, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves and include all men capable of bearing arms. [...] To preserve liberty it is…

— Richard Henry Lee

The 'militia' was the entire adult male citizenry, who were not simply allowed to keep their own arms, but affirmatively required to do so.

— Don Kates

I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials.

— George Mason

I ask you sir, who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people.

— George Mason

Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves?,

— Tench Coxe

Who are the militia, if they be not the people, of this country...? I ask who are the militia? They consist now of the…

— George Mason

The militia is the natural defense of a free country against sudden foreign invasions, domestic insurrections, and domestic usurpation of power by rulers. The…

— Joseph Story

Such are a well regulated militia, composed of the freeholders, citizen and husbandman, who take up arms to preserve their property, as individuals, and…

— Marcus Tullius Cicero

A militia law, requiring all men, or with very few exceptions besides cases of conscience, to be provided with arms and ammunition... is always…

— John Adams

First, the constitution ought to secure a genuine and guard against a select militia, by providing that the militia shall always be kept well…

— Patrick Henry

It would also be strange to find in the midst of a catalog of the rights of individuals a provision securing to the states…

— Antonin Scalia

To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders of towns,…

— John Adams