What Did the Framer's Actually Say About the Second Amendment and the Rights of Citizens?

In some recent perusals of a few op/eds I have stumbled across the occasional "Partner" who regales us with their certain and bound in blood opinion that the Second Amendment is NOT a personal right. That "the people" the Constitution refers to is a collective, and NOT a reference to the individual.

Well now, why not let's go right to the sources and settle this little misnomer under which so many of them big brained folks seem to operate under? Of course even my exact, verbatim and fully quoted and noted recitation of the words of these brilliant men will not suffice.

But at least the reader will know in future that the big brain opining for your amusement is in fact ignorant or just plain dishonest, and therefore their words on this topic, should they differ from the following, are indeed for amusement purposes only. They will certainly not be accurate, factual or anything else upon which one may rely.

Mr. Jefferson spoke to the topic directly with his comment, "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." Jefferson's justifications for his statement are found in comments like "when the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty," and "force is the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism."

The Framer's cautioned against despotic government so vehemently they made sure to warn that despotic government must be stopped, buy force if necessary, with statements like Jefferson's admonitions, "for a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security." He expounded on his point when he stated "the strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

Then Jefferson addressed that keeping liberty might be difficult and warned us "We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a featherbed." And he also addressed those not so inclined with "timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty."

So, is there any doubt where Jefferson stood on this?

John Adams was rather direct when he stated "arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion... in private self-defense," and even more controversial and bold when he offered "the right of a nation to kill a tyrant in case of necessity can no more be doubted than to hang a robber, or kill a flea."

Is their any ambiguity in John Adams' voice?

Thomas Paine told us "arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property... Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."

Washington said "the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good." Then he seemingly justified his belief with the statement "it will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it."

James Madison went right to the point of the current debate when he observed "Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." Then he made sure to warn us as to why the first statement is needed when he argued "A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a free country."

Madison also warned us that our instincts are right when our ears perk up with his "We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties." I wonder if anyone is listening today, besides me of course.

Samuel Adams, revolutionary extraordinaire told us "the Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."

Patrick Henry, statesman extraordinaire said "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." And to see the first statement not come true Henry said "The great object is that every man be armed."

The Marquis de Lafayette is a legend in Revolutionary history. He observed "when the government violates the people's rights, insurrection is, for the people and for each portion of the people, the most sacred of the rights and the most indispensable of duties.

Wow. So here we are, right back at the beginning, wiser for our journey, no? The truth will indeed set you free. Fail to heed it at your peril, and dreadfully, the peril of my nation. The ignorance of some is shocking, but the arrogance of many is galling.

The ignorance can be addressed. I will do so by telling readers how important the Founders thought it was for people to be aware and informed in the ways of history, fact and reality. Truth and honor . . . all that stuff.

The arrogance is a different breed of cat. I cannot educate an intransigent individual who is convinced they know best. Trust they confound me a little, but they amuse me a lot, hence why I so enjoy them.

Lemme leave ya with a quote form one of my favorite people - Rush Limbaugh - "You know why there's a Second Amendment? In case the government fails to follow the first one."

The truth really chaps some folks' backsides, don't it? And for some twisted reason I find that delightfully and completely funny, in the most evil, handlebar mustache twirling best, Snidely Whiplash way possible.

SOURCES: http://www.brainyquote.com/