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“No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” - Thomas Jefferson

“The said constitution shall never be construed to authorize congress to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.” - Samuel Adams

“The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.” - Patrick Henry

“Americans need never fear their government because of the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation.” - James Madison

“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.” - Richard Henry Lee Founding Father

“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms…disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater … confidence than an armed man.” - Thomas Jefferson, quoting Cesare Beccaria in On Crimes and punishment (1764).

“Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property . . . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.” - Thomas Paine, Thoughts on Defensive War (1775).

“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” Thomas Jefferson, Proposed Virginia Constitution (1776).

“The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword, because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any.band of regular troops.” - Noah Webster, An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution Proposed BV the Late Convention (1787).

“Arms in the hands of individual citizens may be used at individual discretion in private self-defense.” - John Adams, A Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America (1787-1788).

“Americans need not fear the federal government because they enjoy] the advantage of being armed, which you possess over the people of almost every other nation.” - James Madison, “The Federalist 46 (1788).

“A militia 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 people always possess arms . . . “ - Richard Henry Lee, Additional Letters From the Federal Farmer 53 (1788).

“I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.” -George Mason, during Virginia’s Convention to Ratify the Constitution (1788).