The American Founding Fathers on Gun Rights and the Purpose of Those Rights

[JimBowie1958]

In short, it wasnt about huntin wabits.

Guns were the guarantor of American liberty, both from without and WITHIN.

“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies.” – George Washington
Here are some other Founding Father’s thoughts about gun ownership.

Patrick Henry
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”

George Mason
“To disarm the people…s the most effectual way to enslave them.”

James Madison
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country.”
“The ultimate authority, wherever the derivative may be found, resides in the people alone.”

Noah Webster
“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of 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 bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States.”

Samuel Adams
“The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”

Richard Henry Lee
“A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves…and include, according to the past and general usuage of the states, 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.”

Thomas Jefferson
“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.”
“What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms.”
“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.”
“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.”
Here's What George Washington Thought About Guns

 

[Brain357]

In short, it wasnt about huntin wabits.

Guns were the guarantor of American liberty, both from without and WITHIN.

“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies.” – George Washington
Here are some other Founding Father’s thoughts about gun ownership.

Patrick Henry
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”

George Mason
“To disarm the people…s the most effectual way to enslave them.”

James Madison
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country.”
“The ultimate authority, wherever the derivative may be found, resides in the people alone.”

Noah Webster
“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of 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 bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States.”

Samuel Adams
“The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”

Richard Henry Lee
“A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves…and include, according to the past and general usuage of the states, 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.”

Thomas Jefferson
“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.”
“What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms.”
“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.”
“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.”
Here's What George Washington Thought About Guns

What was their experience with mass shootings?

I see a lot of mentions of militias.

George Washington though the militias we're useless.

 

[Brain357]

None

The meme said George Washington said that "when government takes away citizens’ right to bear arms it becomes citizens’ duty to take away government’s right to govern." Experts say there’s no evidence that Washington ever said that -- and there are indications that Washington, if anything, favored the arming of trained militias rather than wide swaths of the population. We rate the claim False.

 

[BULLDOG]

Do you teabaggers have any idea how dumb you sound? You're expecting a war with the government? An armed, gun shooting war with the government? That's just crazy.

 

[Brain357]

FALSE: George Washington Wanted Citizens Armed Against the Government

 

[Brain357]

In a letter to his nephew, Lund Washington, plantation manager of Mount Vernon, General George Washington writes on this day in 1776 of his displeasure with the undisciplined conduct and poor battlefield performance of the American militia. Washington blamed the Patriot reliance on the militia as the chief root of his problems in the devastating loss of Long Island and Manhattan to the British

Washington blames militia for problems - Sep 30, 1776 - HISTORY.com

 

[midcan5]

Even the cap and ball founders knew the dummies would cling to their courage, otherwise Depends would sell out every week.

How Alexander Hamilton solved America's gun problem — 228 years ago

What America’s gun fanatics won’t tell you

Assault rifles - I used an M16 in the military, expert marksman even, but unnecessary in our civilian world. Someone agrees.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/16/m...y-i-dont-think-civilians-should-own-them.html

AGAIN? AGAIN. | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/03/us/how-mass-shooters-got-their-guns.html

 

[CrusaderFrank]

In short, it wasnt about huntin wabits.

Guns were the guarantor of American liberty, both from without and WITHIN.

“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies.” – George Washington
Here are some other Founding Father’s thoughts about gun ownership.

Patrick Henry
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”

George Mason
“To disarm the people…s the most effectual way to enslave them.”

James Madison
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country.”
“The ultimate authority, wherever the derivative may be found, resides in the people alone.”

Noah Webster
“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of 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 bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States.”

Samuel Adams
“The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”

Richard Henry Lee
“A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves…and include, according to the past and general usuage of the states, 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.”

Thomas Jefferson
“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.”
“What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms.”
“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.”
“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.”
Here's What George Washington Thought About Guns

What was their experience with mass shootings?

I see a lot of mentions of militias.

George Washington though the militias we're useless.

Their experience was watching unarmed Europeans fall to slavery to monarchy

 

[Brain357]

In short, it wasnt about huntin wabits.

Guns were the guarantor of American liberty, both from without and WITHIN.

“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies.” – George Washington
Here are some other Founding Father’s thoughts about gun ownership.

Patrick Henry
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”

George Mason
“To disarm the people…s the most effectual way to enslave them.”

James Madison
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country.”
“The ultimate authority, wherever the derivative may be found, resides in the people alone.”

Noah Webster
“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of 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 bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States.”

Samuel Adams
“The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”

Richard Henry Lee
“A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves…and include, according to the past and general usuage of the states, 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.”

Thomas Jefferson
“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.”
“What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms.”
“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.”
“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.”
Here's What George Washington Thought About Guns

What was their experience with mass shootings?

I see a lot of mentions of militias.

George Washington though the militias we're useless.

Their experience was watching unarmed Europeans fall to slavery to monarchy

So they had no experience with mass shootings?

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Also, lying Liberal scumbags keep lying about "Obama taking guns"

We're not concerned about Obama, we're concerned about having one more gun grabbing Fascist on SCOTUS. We know that's exactly how you'll come after our guns.

 

[JimBowie1958]

What was their experience with mass shootings?

The early American citizens were never so stupid as to create gun free zones, so of course there were no mass shootings. But there could have been mass knifings or mass swordings, I guess, like they frequently have in China and Japan.

I see a lot of mentions of militias.

George Washington though the militias we're useless.

Bullshit. Provide a link with context.

Militias were not musket armed should-to-shoulder rank and file marching troops, like the Continentals were. The militias were muzzle loading rifle firing skirmishers, never intended to march into the thick of the battle like line troops. He may have wished he had more line troops than rifle skirmishing militia, but you fight with what you have.

The militia forces were great for controlling the roads and byways of the colonies as they denied to Gage and other British generals the ability to provide unescorted logistical support to his troops. This greatly limited the range of British operations and kept them hemmed in to the urban areas or convoys of forces that had a much smaller footprint than they would have had without the militias.

 

[JimBowie1958]

In a letter to his nephew, Lund Washington, plantation manager of Mount Vernon, General George Washington writes on this day in 1776 of his displeasure with the undisciplined conduct and poor battlefield performance of the American militia. Washington blamed the Patriot reliance on the militia as the chief root of his problems in the devastating loss of Long Island and Manhattan to the British

Washington blames militia for problems - Sep 30, 1776 - HISTORY.com

He was applying a professional standard to amateur volunteers.

This amounts to whining and little more.

 

[OffensivelyOpenMinded]

In short, it wasnt about huntin wabits.

Guns were the guarantor of American liberty, both from without and WITHIN.

“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies.” – George Washington
Here are some other Founding Father’s thoughts about gun ownership.

Patrick Henry
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”

George Mason
“To disarm the people…s the most effectual way to enslave them.”

James Madison
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country.”
“The ultimate authority, wherever the derivative may be found, resides in the people alone.”

Noah Webster
“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of 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 bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States.”

Samuel Adams
“The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”

Richard Henry Lee
“A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves…and include, according to the past and general usuage of the states, 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.”

Thomas Jefferson
“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.”
“What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms.”
“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.”
“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.”
Here's What George Washington Thought About Guns

What was their experience with mass shootings?

I see a lot of mentions of militias.

George Washington though the militias we're useless.

They went through a revolutionary war, numbnuts. They saw worse than mass shootings. They saw WAR. Idiots boy I tell ya...

 

[JimBowie1958]

FALSE: George Washington Wanted Citizens Armed Against the Government

Lol, the Snopes reference is what I quoted in my OP, dude.

A free people ought not only to be armed but disciplined; to which end a Uniform and well digested plan is requisite: And their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories, as tend to render them independent on others, for essential, particularly for military supplies.

Another liberal nit picking where he knows not where, but its usually somewhere around Uranus.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

In short, it wasnt about huntin wabits.

Guns were the guarantor of American liberty, both from without and WITHIN.

“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies.” – George Washington
Here are some other Founding Father’s thoughts about gun ownership.

Patrick Henry
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”

George Mason
“To disarm the people…s the most effectual way to enslave them.”

James Madison
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country.”
“The ultimate authority, wherever the derivative may be found, resides in the people alone.”

Noah Webster
“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of 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 bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States.”

Samuel Adams
“The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”

Richard Henry Lee
“A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves…and include, according to the past and general usuage of the states, 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.”

Thomas Jefferson
“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.”
“What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms.”
“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.”
“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.”
Here's What George Washington Thought About Guns

What was their experience with mass shootings?

I see a lot of mentions of militias.

George Washington though the militias we're useless.

Their experience was watching unarmed Europeans fall to slavery to monarchy

So they had no experience with mass shootings?

Do you mean the armed governments rounding up and executing citizens? I think they were very much aware of how badly that usually turned out for the unarmed citizens

For example, "During the Interregnum (1651–1660), this policy was enhanced with the passing of the Act of Settlement of Ireland in 1652. Its goal was a further transfer of land from Irish to English hands.[132] The immediate war aims and the longer term policies of the English Parliamentarians resulted in an attempt by the English to transfer the native population to the western fringes to make way for Protestant settlers. This policy was reflected in a phrase attributed to Cromwell: "To Hell or to Connaught" and has been described by historians as ethnic cleansing, if not genocide.[133]"

 

[JimBowie1958]

The meme said George Washington said that "when government takes away citizens’ right to bear arms it becomes citizens’ duty to take away government’s right to govern." Experts say there’s no evidence that Washington ever said that -- and there are indications that Washington, if anything, favored the arming of trained militias rather than wide swaths of the population. We rate the claim False.

Lol, liberal 'experts' never seem to be able to find what they prefer to not find.

 

[regent]

So the first uprising by civilians, and Washington ordered the militia to put it down. Sort like we use the National Guard today

 

[BULLDOG]

What was their experience with mass shootings?

The early American citizens were never so stupid as to create gun free zones, so of course there were no mass shootings. But there could ahve been mass kn ifings or mass swordings, I guess, like they frequently have in China and Japan.

I see a lot of mentions of militias.

George Washington though the militias we're useless.

Bullshit. Provide a link with context.

Militias were not musket armed should-to-shoulder rank and file marching troops, like the Continentals were. The militias were muzzle loading rifle firing skirmishers, never intended to march into the thick of the battle like line troops. He may have wished he had more line troops than rifle skirmishing militia, but you fight with what you have.

The militia forces were great for controlling the roads and byways of the colonies as they denied to Gage and other British generals the ability to provide unescorted logistical support to his troops. This greatly limited the range of British operations and kept them hemmed in to the urban areas or convoys of forces that had a much smaller footprint than they would have had without the militias.

So you want to be ready to run down and guard the road when your imagined war breaks out with our own government? What kind of fight are you going to put up against the most powerful military in the world?

 

[Brain357]

In a letter to his nephew, Lund Washington, plantation manager of Mount Vernon, General George Washington writes on this day in 1776 of his displeasure with the undisciplined conduct and poor battlefield performance of the American militia. Washington blamed the Patriot reliance on the militia as the chief root of his problems in the devastating loss of Long Island and Manhattan to the British

Washington blames militia for problems - Sep 30, 1776 - HISTORY.com

He was applying a professional standard to amateur volunteers.

This amounts to whining and little more.

So the founding fathers are just whiners now?

 

[JimBowie1958]

So the first uprising by civilians, and Washington ordered the militia to put it down. Sort like we use the National Guard today

yeah, emphasis on the 'sorta'.