"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
- Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Constitution, Draft 1, 1776
"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, letter to to John Cartwright, 5 June 1824
"To disarm the people...s the most effectual way to enslave them."
- George Mason, referencing advice given to the British Parliament by Pennsylvania governor Sir William Keith, The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adooption of the Federal Constitution, June 14, 1788
"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 ruined.... The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun."
- Patrick Henry, Speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 5, 1778
"The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."
- Samuel Adams, Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, 1788
"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."
- Thomas Jefferson, Commonplace Book (quoting 18th century criminologist Cesare Beccaria), 1774-1776
WTF? Can you believe this shit, I just can't seem to fathom that the founding fathers, those that drafted the constitution, the "supreme law of the land" actually believed that guns served a purpose outside of forming a militia. Those cocksuckers actually had the audacity to feel that every man had the god given right to carry a gun at all times, for self protection. Oh, how can this be?
Did Adams, well over 200 years ago realize that there would be jackasses much like padamasterbater, that would attempt to misconstrue the constitution in an attempt to keep citizens from keeping and bearing arms? Jefferson did not just say if you pass laws to keep guns from the citizens, then only criminals will have guns, and unarmed law abiding citizens will then become victims? Yes that motherfucker did!
Strange, the whole well regulated militia theory seems to be bullshit, the founders felt firearms had a place in society, for all free men, and that right was god given.