2 amendment Quote by Tench Coxe
“Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man gainst his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an Americans.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: The Rights of the American People, 1790
The militia is the citizen army; disarming it threatens liberty because arms are a fundamental right of Americans.
In simple terms: Militia are citizen soldiers; taking away weapons endangers freedom.
Key Takeaway
Protect the right to bear arms.
Themes
freedom
citizen
military
rights
Mood
defensive
serious
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- constitutional law
- civil rights activism
Key Concepts
Republicanism
civic duty
self‑defense
Questions to Reflect On
- Should the government limit private weapons?
- How to balance safety and liberty?
A Different Perspective
Disarming may be needed for public safety in certain contexts.
![“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)
