Joel Barlow Quotes

Every person, whether in wartime or not, should keep a pistol and rifle in his house at all times. If a person is not going to protect himself, and wishes the government to do it for him, how can he complain when the government decides to protect itself against him, and executes him?

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.

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.

In an age where the government has tanks, rockets and missiles, it seems ludicrous to believe that citizen's having handguns are a protection against government power.

The majority falls prey to the delusion—popular in some circles—that ordinary people are too careless and stupid to own guns, and we would be far better off leaving all weapons in the hands of professionals on the government payroll. But the simple truth—born of experience—is that tyranny thrives best where government need not fear the wrath of an armed people.

Guns are the ultimate bulwark against government misbehavior.

When guns are outlawed, only the Government will have guns. The Government - and a few outlaws. If that happens, you can count me among the outlaws.

The question isn't whether we 'need' guns. It's wether the government should have a monopoly on force

Gun control means control. It means control for the government and the government starts controlling the people.

That guns do more than protect us from criminals; more importantly, they protect us from the ongoing threat of government.

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.

The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.

The advantage of being armed ... the Americans possess over the people of all other nations.... Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several Kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.

That a well regulated militia is the proper, natural and safe defense of a free government …. standing armies are dangerous to liberty

If the government decides to become a tyrannical government, our guns are to protect us against that.

What are we going to do if citizens are disarmed, and the government doesn't obey its own laws?

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.

The Second Amendment is the right to keep and bear arms for our citizenryThis is for usThis is for us when our government becomes tyrannical

Where I stand at is on the Second Amendment where the right to bear arms is not just for hunting and fishing and things like that. But it's the right of the American people to have a means of defense against a tyrannical government. So, sometimes you got to have that back-up plan.

Only an armed people can be the real bulwark of popular liberty.

I'm gonna get me a gun, all those people who put me down you better get ready to run.

Crime is a human behavior problem, not a mechanical problem. Furthermore, if firearms were not very useful for self-defense, then police wouldn't carry them. In a free country, if the government can go armed, so should the citizens, if they so choose.

To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms.

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?

...that standing army can never be formidable (threatening) to the liberties of the people, while there is a large body of citizens, little if at all inferior to them in the use of arms.