Archive for the ‘Quotes’ Category
As translated into English by Thomas Jefferson
The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes…. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.
– Cesare Beccaria
“A free people ought to be armed.”
“A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.”
– George Washington
Happy birthday George.
“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe.”
The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops.
– Noah Webster
As long as we’re quoting Thomas Paine
Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property…
Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.
How Thomas Paine is being completely taken out of context
This image and quote from Thomas Paine is being circulated around the net by leftists who are still trying to do damage control from Obama’s “You didn’t build that” attack on business owners.
That quote was taken from a pamphlet Paine wrote during the time of his support of the French Revolution titled, “Thomas Payne à La Législature et au Directoire. Ou la Justice Agraire opposée à la Loi Agraire, et aux privilèges agraires. Prix 15 sols. À Paris, chez la citoyenne Ragouleau, près le Théâtre de la République, No. 229. Et chez les Marchands de Nouveautés.” Gutenberg.org has it here.
Here is the context that was omitted by the left when they started this meme. From the introduction of the pamphlet, emphasis mine:
Liberty and Property are words expressing all those of our possessions which are not of an intellectual nature. There are two kinds of property. Firstly, natural property, or that which comes to us from the Creator of the universe,—such as the earth, air, water. Secondly, artificial or acquired property,—the invention of men. In the latter equality is impossible; for to distribute it equally it would be necessary that all should have contributed in the same proportion, which can never be the case; and this being the case, every individual would hold on to his own property, as his right share. Equality of natural property is the subject of this little essay. Every individual in the world is born therein with legitimate claims on a certain kind of property, or its equivalent.
This is a direct refutation of everything Obama and the left stand for.
Hubert Humphrey on guns
Certainly one of the chief guarantees of freedom under any government, no matter how popular and respected, is the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. This is not to say that firearms should not be very carefully used and that definite safety rules of precaution should not be taught and enforced. But the right of citizens to bear arms is just one more guarantee against arbitrary government, and one more safeguard against tyranny which now appears remote in America, but which historically has proved to be always possible.
“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.”
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.
– Thomas Jefferson
What Patrick Henry would say to President Obama
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the numbers of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth, to know the worst, and to provide for it.