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• To preserve liberty, it is necessary that the whole body of the people possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.
  -- Richard Henry Lee...
• Such are a well regulated militia, composed of the freeholders, citizen and husbandman, who take up arms to preserve their property, as individuals, and their rights as freemen.
  -- "M.T. Cicero", in a newspaper letter of 1788 touching the "militia" referred to in the Second Amendment to the Constitution....
• Whenever, therefore, the profession of arms becomes a distinct order in the state.
  ...the end of the social compact is defeated... No free government was ever founded, or ever preserved its liberty without uniting the characters of the citizen and soldier in those destined for the defense of the state....
• The militia of these free commonwealths, entitled and accustomed to their arms, when compared with any possible army, must be _tremendous and irresistable_.
  Who are the militia? _are they not ourselves_. Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms _each man against his own bosom_....
• 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.
  -- The Constitution of the United States of America Amendment 2, 1791...
• W]hat country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time that [the] people preserve the spirit of resistance?
  Let them take arms...The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants....
• What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?
  Let them take arms!" -- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), Letter to Colonel W. S. Smith, 1787...
• No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms.
  The strongest reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government....
• Quote #392 "And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time that this people preserve the spirit of resistance ?
  Let them take arms ... The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants....