I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials.
A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a free country.
What, sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty ... Whenever governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins.
A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves... and include all men capable of bearing arms.
For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. - Second Amendment to the Constitution An armed society is a polite society.
To disarm the people... was the best and most effectual way to enslave them.
The powers of the sword are in the hands of the yeomanry of America from sixteen to sixty. The militia of these free commonwealths, entitled and accustomed to their arms, when compared with any possible army, must be tremendous and irresistible. Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress has no power to disarm the militia.
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.
To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms.
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.
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.
What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.
Are we at last brought to such an humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?
Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe.
The great object is that every man be armed.
Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?
I'm not afraid of the press or the Militia.
I ask you sir, who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people.
or simply: