The American Wisdom Series 

Pamphlet #201

American Revolution (The Revolutionary War)

The seizure of the colonists arms by the British was cited as one of the causes of the war in the Declaration of Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms July 6,1776.

The Rights of the individual citizens of Boston to keep and bear their private arms and the actual or feared violation of this right throughout the colonies generally sparked the American Revolution.

The American Revolution was opened by an attempt by the British redcoats to violate the colonists right to bear arms. The Battle of Lexington April 19,1775, occurred while the British were marching to seize the arms and ammunition of the colonists at Concord.

After the War Ended a New Government Was Formed, The United States...A Republican form of government limited in authority by a Constitution which included a Bill of Rights. The Second Amendment of this Bill of Rights Reads ...

"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."

Why Was This Right Included?

In Virginia after the Revolutionary War ended, Patrick Henry argued that, "the great object is that every man be armed...Everyone who is able may have a gun."

George Mason added, "to disarm the people, that is the best and most effectual way to enslave them...by totally disusing and neglecting the militia". Mason also clarified, "who are the militia? They consist of the whole people, except a few public officers."

Zachariah Johnston argued that the new Constitution could never result in religious or other oppression because "the people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them."

Samuel Adams proposed at the Massachusetts convention, "that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the right of conscience; or to prevent The people of the Unites States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own Arms."

In Philadelphia, The Reverend Nicholas Collin said, "While the people have property, Arms in their hands, and only a spark of noble spirit, the most corrupt Congress must be mad to form any project of tyranny."

Its Plain That...

The American Revolution was fought on the principle that the people must remain armed and capable of an armed uprising, in times of oppression, against a standing army or the established government.

A Pennsylvanian

In 1789 Trech Coxe published his "Remarks on the First Point of the Amendments to the Federal Constitution," under the Pen Name "A Pennsylvanian" He wrote, "as civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed by the next article in their rights to keep and bear their private arms."

Noah Webster

Noah Webster, composer of the first dictionary, said, "Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in most 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 band of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States."

Our Founding Father's Intentions...

Like other provisions of the Federal Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment guarantee that, "the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed" was intended to prevent recurrence of Government acts of oppression like the British acts that sparked the American Revolution. It is a written testimony in plain English to encourage the American people to stand up for their right to own and carry firearms and other implements suitable for defense of self, family, community and nation.

Civic Duty

Our founding fathers believed it was our patriotic duty to be armed. They believed that the ideal of armed citizens was a civic virtue.

Thomas Jefferson felt every boy of age 10 should be given a gun and taught its safe and skillful use.

Free man has a moral responsibility to own and be trained in the use of arms.

Gun possession shapes the character necessary to a good citizen.

Gun ownership reduces violence by deterring usurpations that tend to provoke it.

There is today, more occasions for the actual use of defensive arms then there was in 18th century American life.

Arming the good citizen minimizes the likelihood of violence by deterring the wrongs that produce it.

Profound Faith in "We the People"

The Second Amendment rests on a profound faith in the nonviolent effect of an armed people, whether "against the Ambition of their Governors...the Domestic Affronts of any of their own (criminals) or against the Foreign Invasions of Ambitious and unruly neighbors...Enabled to stand upon their own Defense "the People" shall never be put upon in but their Swords will have grown rusty in their hands;...a man that hath a sword by his side, shall have least occasion to make use of it."

Civic Virtue

Arms possession promotes civic virtue. "The very character of the people - the cornerstone and strength of a society...is related to the individual's ability and desire to arm and defend himself against threats to his person, his property and his state."

Even though arms might never be used, their possession signifies the good citizens' commitment both to his private and public responsibilities.

CONSTANT SUSPICION OF GOVERNMENT WAS EVER PRESENT IN THE 18TH CENTURY. THERE IS EVEN MORE REASON TO FEEL THAT WAY TODAY.

What America needs to be aware of is that an armed citizenry is the hallmark of, and indispensable precondition for, maintaining individual liberty and republican institutions; the right to bear arms is one of the five preeminent and absolute rights of individuals at common law.

Disarmament destroys the peoples' moral as well as physical capacity to resist tyranny.

We must react to any attempt to confiscate arms as a plot against us all.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson said, "a strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun; while this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with a ball, and other of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the companion of your walks."

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin said, "They that Give Up Essential Liberty to Purchase a Little Temporary Safety, Deserve Neither Liberty nor Safety."

The Bill of Rights

As adopted, the Bill of Rights uses the term "the people" in the First, Second, Forth, Ninth and Tenth Amendments. It is "the people" who are guaranteed the right to free speech, press, religion, assembly; to keep and bear arms; against unreasonable searches and seizures; and to exercise unenumerated rights and the power not delegated to the United States or the individual states.

Rewriting History

No amount of history rewriting will ever convince the simplest citizen, who can read, that he is not one of "the people" whose right to keep and bear arms is secured by the Second Amendment.