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"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 Co-author of th
by edyang 14y ago
"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
Co-author of the Second Amendment
during Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution, 1788
"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence . from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurrences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable . the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."
George Washington
"The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."
Thomas Paine
"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
Thomas Jefferson
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that . it is their right and duty to be at all times armed. "
Thomas Jefferson
"The best we can help for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."
Alexander Hamilton
- gruseom 14y agoThese quotes are bogus. The Jefferson doesn't exist: http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/those-who-hammer-their-guns-plowsquotation http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/those-who-hammer-th... The Hamilton has been mangled: http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/fed29.htm http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/fed29.htm And so on. Shoddy fabrication is not debate.
- gmoore 14y agoThanks gruseom - I'm so tired of seeing those bogus quotes thrown around by pro-gun fanatics....
- jQueryIsAwesome 14y agoThose are quotations from really instructed people in the current state of the art. > the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference Any data on this, all data suggests that were there are more guns there are more deaths, apparently evil interferes can buy guns too.
- richcollins 14y agohttp://mygunculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Ireland_murder_rates_gun_ban.png http://mygunculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Ireland_m... http://www.justfacts.com/images/guncontrol/england.png http://www.justfacts.com/images/guncontrol/england.png http://politisite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/dc-gun-ban-chart-552x361.jpg http://politisite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/dc-gun-ban-... http://www.justfacts.com/images/guncontrol/chicago_handguns.png http://www.justfacts.com/images/guncontrol/chicago_handguns....
- jQueryIsAwesome 14y agoI like to cherry pick data too. USA is the developed country with more Gunshot deaths per capita http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_firearm-related_death_rate http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_firearm-... UK 7 consecutive years with murder rate falls after stronger gun control, UK have more in common with USA than Jamaica or Ireland http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/hosb0212/hosb0212snr?view=Binary http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-s... The percentage of the crimes committed with firearms in USA is way higer than the half of Colombia, a third world country with multiple armed guerrillas for more than 40 years. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence
- edyang 14y agoSince the UK's gun ban in 1997, gun crime has gone up 89% in a decade: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1223193/Culture-violence-Gun-crime-goes-89-decade.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1223193/Culture-viol... "The latest Government figures show that the total number of firearm offences in England and Wales has increased from 5,209 in 1998/99 to 9,865 last year - a rise of 89 per cent. In some parts of the country, the number of offences has increased more than five-fold."
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- hindsightbias 14y agoGiven that a militia in their context is a completely obsolete concept, the validity of their ancient beliefs should be considered as current as their dire fears of a ginormous standing Army. Get rid of the Army & Marines, and we can go back to such quaint times.
- ckluis 14y agoAh, but even semi-armed insurgents can cause massive casualties. To argue that guns in the hands of many cannot affect a modern government military is a farce. Had Europeans had as many guns as their American counterparts would Hitler have conquered Europe? Making pithy statements is easy. Try putting some thoughts into your answers.
- rapala 14y ago"Had Europeans had as many guns as their American counterparts would Hitler have conquered Europe?" Um...yes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Poland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Poland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_invasion_of_Denmark_(1940) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_invasion_of_Denmark_(194... The number of privately owned guns had absolutely nothing to do with it.
- ckluis 14y agoMy comment was an example of a pithy statment that did not have any deep thought or research. I was making a counter example.
- edyang 14y agoI'm sure the citizens suffering the aftermath of Katrina and Sandy know how quick and responsive the federal government is, right? Or the shop keepers in Koreatown during the LA riots. Bottom line is, why on earth would I want to rely solely on the government for my own safety and self-defense?