9/2/91 #2   HATONN

Patrick Henry:  "The great object is that every man be armed.  Everyone who is able may have a gun."

James Madison:  "Americans have the right and advantage of being armed--unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."  Ah humm!

Samuel Adams:  "The Constitution shall never be construed...to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."

Alexander Hamilton:  "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."

James Madison:  "The right of the people to keep (to have and to hold, openly or concealed) and bear (carry, transport and use) firearms (weapons of self-defense, including the handgun which predated the rifle and has existed for self-defense since the 1500's) shall not be abridged).  A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country..."

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

Elbridge Gerry:  "I ask what is the purpose of the militia?  To offset the need of large standing armies, the bane of liberty."

Thomas Jefferson:  "The constitution of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; and they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property and freedom of the press."

Abraham Lincoln:  "Our safety, our liberty, depends upon preserving the Constitution of the United States as our Fathers made it inviolate.  The people of the United States are the rightful masters of both Congress and the Courts, not to overthrow the Constitution.  BUT TO OVERTHROW THE MEN WHO PERVERT THE CONSTITUTION."

Thomas Jefferson:  "THE STRONGEST REASON FOR THE PEOPLE TO RETAIN THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS IS, AS A LAST RESORT, TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST TYRANNY IN GOVERNMENT."

SO, CONSTITUTIONALLY THE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO OWN AND BEAR ARMS AS AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT.  THE MILITIA CONSISTS OF ALL THE PEOPLE, AT ALL TIMES.  EVERY CITIZEN HAS THE ABSOLUTE, GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO BE ARMED AND TO DEFEND HIS PERSON, FAMILY, PROPERTY AND COUNTRY.  NO GOVERNMENT OR LEGISLATURE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO RESTRICT OR INFRINGE IN ANY WAY ON THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO BE ARMED!

Source:  THE PHOENIX EXPRESS, September 1991, Volume 16. Number 3, Pages 4-5.

http://www.phoenixarchives.com/express/1991/0991/16-03.pdf