Right to keep and bear arms

The right to keep and bear arms (often referred to as the right to bear arms or to have arms) is the people's right to have their own arms for their defense.

There can be no proper relation between one who is armed and one who is not. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

Quotes

• In a constitutional government the fighting-men have the supreme power, and those who possess arms are the citizens.
  • Aristotle, Politics, c. 350 BC.
  • Benjamin Jowett translation.
• And thereupon the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, pursuant to their respective letters and elections, being now assembled in a full and free representative of this nation, taking into their most serious consideration the best means for attaining the ends aforesaid, do in the first place (as their ancestors in like case have usually done) for the vindicating and asserting their ancient rights and liberties declare... That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law
  • English Bill of Rights (1689)
• The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand, arms like laws discourage and keep the invader and the plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. The balance of power is the scale of peace. 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.
  • Thomas Paine, “Thoughts On Defensive War,” Pennsylvania Magazine, July, 1775.
• Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom 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 that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States.
  • Noah Webster, [A Citizen of America, pseud.], An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution (Philadelphia: Prichard & Hall, 1787), 43.
• As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed by the article in their right to keep and bear their private arms.
  • Tench Coxe [A Pennsylvanian, pseud.], “Remarks on the First Part of the Amendments to the Federal Constitution,” Philadelphia Federal Gazette, June 18, 1789, 2, col. 1.
• 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.
  • U.S. Constitution, Amendment 2 (1791).
• There is no law written or unwritten, no part of the statute or common law of our country, which denies to a man the right of possessing or wearing any kind of arms.... Every man has a right to possess military arms, of every sort and kind, and to furnish his rooms with them.
  • Christopher Gore, Trial Speech, reported in Trial of Thomas O. Selfridge, Attorney at Law, Before the Hon. Isaac Parker, Esquire, for Killing Charles Austin, on the Public Exchange, in Boston, August 4th, 1806, 2nd ed. (Boston: Russell and Cutler, Belcher and Armstrong, & Oliver and Munroe, 1807), 41.
• The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them.
  • Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, vol. 3 (Boston: Hilliard, Gray and Company, 1833), 746.
• The tank, the B-52, the fighter-bomber, the state-controlled police and military are the weapons of dictatorship. The rifle is the weapon of democracy. Not for nothing was the revolver called an 'equalizer'. Egalite implies liberte. And always will. Let us hope our weapons are never needed — but do not forget what the common people of this nation knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny.
  • Edward Abbey, as quoted in Abbey's Road (1979).

• There can be no proper relation between one who is armed and one who is not.
  • Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince, Daniel Donno translation (1981), Bantam Books, pp. 54–64.

See also

• Second Amendment to the United States Constitution