Founding Fathers - Page 2

""On every occasion [of Constitutional interpretation] let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying [to force] what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, [instead let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed.""

Quote by Thomas Jefferson on constitutional interpretation

""THE SUPPOSED QUIETUDE OF A GOOD MAN ALLURES THE RUFFIAN; WHILE ON THE OTHER HAND, ARMS LIKE LAWS DISCOURAGE AND KEEP THE INVADER AND PLUNDERER IN AWE, AND PRESERVE ORDER IN THE WORLD AS WELL AS PROPERTY. 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... HORRID MISCHIEF WOULD ENSUE WERE ONE HALF THE WORLD DEPRIVED OF THE USE OF THEM.""

Quote by Thomas Paine on arms as deterrent

""ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT AN ARMED AND TRAINED MILITIA IS THE FIRMEST BULWARK OF REPUBLICS – THAT WITHOUT STANDING ARMIES THEIR LIBERTY CAN NEVER BE IN DANGER, NOR WITH LARGE ONES SAFE.""

Quote by James Madison on militia as bulwark

""Conceived it to be the privilege of every citizen, and one of his most essential rights, to bear arms, and to resist every attack upon his liberty or property, by whomsoever made. The particular States, like private citizens, have a right to be armed, and to defend by force of arms, their rights, when invaded.""

Quote by Roger Sherman on citizen and state rights

""Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First, a right to life; secondly to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.""

Quote by Samuel Adams on natural rights

""THE SAFETY OF THESE STATES AND EVERYTHING DEAR TO A FREE PEOPLE MUST DEPEND IN AN EMINENT DEGREE ON THE MILITIA...THIS ARRANGEMENT SHOULD BE FORMED, TOO, IN TIME OF PEACE, TO BE THE BETTER PREPARED FOR WAR.""

Quote by James Madison on militia safety

""That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms...""

Quote by Samuel Adams on peaceable citizens

""THERE IS NOTHING SO LIKELY TO PRODUCE PEACE AS TO BE WELL PREPARED TO MEET AN ENEMY.""

Quote by George Washington on peace through preparedness