[First_Salute]

It must be made a sacred maxim, that the militia obey the executive power, which represents the whole people, in the execution of laws. To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defence, or by partial orders of towns, counties, or districts of a state, is to demolish every institution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man — it is a dissolution of the government. The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed, and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.

- John Adams (1787)

[x1stcav]

‘To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defence, or by partial orders of towns, counties, or districts of a state,’

I guess that settles it?

[TigersEye]

That is a wise and excellent statement until the Executive becomes the most
lawless entity in the land doing more than any other to lay the law prostrate.

[skeeter]

I believe Adams was warning against using the 2nd Amendment to foment anarchy. I agree with him.

[tomkat]

Adams, while exemplary in several respects, was also one of the chief proponents of a grasping Federalism.

Given his druthers, there'd likely have been no state sovereignty.

[cherokee1]

Ol’John was right only so far as the “executive power” is not corrupt. In this case it is the executive power that is disolving the gummint.

[Cen-Tejas]

Good quote and thanks for posting.

But, reading it, and assuming it is accurate after being passed down through 200+ years, it almost seems the context must be wrong because we know that what our forefathers feared most was “government” and particularly “runaway government”. Indeed, the primary purpose of the Second Ammendment, most of us feel, is to stand up to the government and, in times like Bunkerville, “NOT obey executive Power”.

Perhaps John Adams and Thomas Jefferson weren’t of one mind on this issue.