Our 2nd Amendment

There seems to be much debate these days about the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. Perhaps we should see what some of the founders of this great nation had to say about it.

"The right of self-defense is the first law of nature; in most governments, it has been the study of rulers to confine this right within the narrowest limits possible. Whenever the right of the people to keep and bear arms is prohibited under any color or pretext whatsoever, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction." - St. George Tucker, Revolution Soldier, Federal Judge, & Law Professor

"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..." - Richard Henry Lee, Declaration of Independence Signer a Virginia Statesman, and US Senator

"The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them." - Joseph Story, Supreme Court Justice 1812 - 1845

"Forty years ago, when the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them" - George Mason, Father of the Bill of Rights

"The Constitution should never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms." - Samuel Adams, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of. Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. And it is not certain, that with this aid alone they would not be able to shake off their yokes. But were the people to possess the additional advantages of local governments chosen by themselves, who could collect the national will and direct the national force, and of officers appointed out of the militia, by these governments, and attached both to them and to the militia, it may be affirmed with the greatest assurance, that the throne of every tyranny in Europe would be speedily overturned in spite of the legions which surround it." - James Madison, Signer of the Constitution and 4th President of the United States

"The great natural law of self-preservation cannot be repealed or superseded by any human institution. The right of the citizens to bear arms in the defense of themselves shall not be questioned.

Every man's house is deemed, by the law, to be his castle; and the law, while it invests him with the power, enjoins on him the duty, of the commanding officer. 'Every man's house is his castle, and he ought to keep and defend it at his peril; and if any one be robbed in it, it shall be esteemed his own default and negligence.' For this reason, one may assemble people together in order to protect and defend his house." - James Wilson, Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, one of the Six original Associate Justices of the US Supreme Court

In looking at these quotes, I don't see anything about hunting, which is a popular talking point these days. What I do see is the need to keep and bear arms for the purpose of protecting oneself against those that may want to harm them. The founders believed that we had the right to defend ourselves—even against our own government if needed. Fortunately, the latter hasn't been needed to that extreme, but we certainly have tons of examples of needing to protect ourselves against criminals that may want to harm us.