It would help if Eric Holder, Ollie North and all those in between didn't keep fast & furious gun drops going.

Cartels from South of the Border, Bulgaria, and serveral other countries bring their big bad guns to their illegal pot grows in California. Home invasions happen regularly.

Police at least an hour away from most invasions.

#28

They seem to forget to use muskets. I notice it's ok when you bring up FDR...yet if I put out info on T. Jefferson it's a problem for you. Different strokes for different folks?

Rather than constructing eight paragraphs of response, why don't you just follow this sage advice, especially the last sentence.

Mr. Ed sez, “You're not Mommy the Monitor. This is a free-speech zone, so post as much or as little as your black heart desires. If you can't handle my politically incorrect posts, then don't read them and don't respond.”

K2 #24. Haha, Okay got it. Sorry, I was just baiting HotCoffee with a little light-hearted tongue and cheek humor. A little too subtle perhaps? Her point in her double posts was elaborated on quite sufficiently for both threads I would think, right? It was an interesting read, and with such long posts she is a gal after my heart.

};--))

Off topic but don't know where else to put this.

I was researching the proposed budget and IRS revenue projection and ran across this info regarding unemployment benefits and who pays for it. I've often argued that this is NOT paid for by workers but by employers and some people actually thought it was the FICA tax which is for SS. Here it is straight from IRS website.
"Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax
Employers report and pay FUTA tax separately from Federal Income tax, and social security and Medicare taxes. You pay FUTA tax only from your own funds. Employees do not pay this tax or have it withheld from their pay. Refer to Publication 15, Employer's Tax Guide and Publication 15-A, Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide for more information on FUTA tax."

Thom,

I will not go through all your points with my counterpoints except for one, just for the sake of brevity. Registration.

Consider a law that requires registration of firearms: a convicted felon can not be convicted for failing to register a gun, because it is illegal under Federal law for a felon to possess a firearm; but a person who can legally own a gun, and fails to register it, can be punished.

The Fifth Amendment, Self-Incrimination, and Gun Registration https://www.firearmsandliberty.com/cramer.haynes.html

HotCoffee. What's your point? Nothing wrong with doing so, but you just posted a long list of the same exact cherry-picked quotes twice, yesterday and today, from a lot of different people who lived a long time ago in a completely different, pre-industrial, mostly hunting and agricultural era where guns were a completely different technological beast and which had a totally different significance to everyday survival than what the reality is today in the postmodern era with a professional, highly sophisticated and mechanized standing army, along with a permanent, well-equipped national guard to protect us.

But I'm still not sure what you are ultimately trying to say. Sorry. Can you elaborate a little more?

Don't give a sh*t what you have to say anymore, granny; was more interested in what HotCoffee's take is. Your filter is too worn out and clogged up with decades and decades of right-wing spit and puss ...and, now, wistful visions of Big Daddy grabbing your pussy.

HotCoffee #33.

"You know not of what you speak," and you have no idea what's in my heart, you arrogant pissant. Don't mistake natural -- and legitimate -- emotions of disgust and anger at right-wing injustice, fascistic mayhem, and big f*cking Republican lies, with "hate" of other human beings. That's the purview of Trump and his "Lock her up!" haters, such as yourself, you hypocritical piece of ordure. And nobody is talking about "free medical." What the hell is wrong with you?

Also, piss poor job at deflecting there, Mensa-girl... Yup, f*ck Harvey Weinstein; but he's not the pretend president. And f*ck Bill Clinton; he's off the stage and relegated to the dustbin of history, as is Hillary, mostly. (Excuse me -- "Hellary.") Rest assured, although many of Bill's policy initiatives were progressive or at least quasi-progressive (Not all of course. Certainly, signing NAFTA was a major screw-up, but that was originally a Republican initiative through and through until recently when it became too politically unpopular.), I for one never did like the man at the personal level and attacked him mercilessly back in the day for his sexual transgressions and lies (adjudicated, impeached, and disbarred) as an embarrassment to our party.

But other than a sparse sprinkling of conscious-stricken Republicans here and there, where is the hue and cry for accountability and the outrage on the right -- your outrage -- for the much worse transgressions of the Pussy Grabber (his own words, proudly uttered)? Trump trolls are defending a pervert who forced himself on, what, nearly two dozen women so far and counting, who judges them by their looks not their minds, who makes mean hurtful remarks on stage and on camera ("Look at that face! Fat disgusting pig! After 35, they're too old."), who said publicly that he would love to "date" his own daughter, who lusted after a ten-year-old kid unfortunate enough to attract his creepy gaze, who thought it was cool to burst in on half-naked teenage girls in their dressing room while they were rushing around trying to get ready for the Miss Teen USA pageant? Add pedophile to his resumé.

Crickets...

So excuuuse me for not copying and pasting entire encyclopedia passages about every sexual pervert who has ever lived, so that I can meet your high expectations for the other "1/2 [of] the story." Obviously I don't mind long posts, even from knuckle-dragging unibrow Trump trolls (usually in one's own words though), but trying to cover all the bases for the delight of your personal egocentric satisfaction, or to mechanically copy and paste ad nauseam, would be a ridiculous exercise, such as #34 above, wouldn't it? (Hello? In case you're wondering, we all know how to use the Google machine for further background and research.)

And no, I am not "against [my] fellow counrty [sic] men and women" -- a deliberate mischaracterization of my words and meaning. Say, wasn't it you who once lectured everybody on how important it was to get our words just right? Okay then, I'm only "against" (very strongly) fascist pigs who wrap themselves in a flag and carry a cross, no matter what country they happen to crap in. It's not my fault that in this country, almost invariably, the looney-tunes and stark-raving-mad fascists happen to be Republicans. Is correlation cause?

FYI: The standard definition of an ad hominem attack is to rebut an argument by only criticizing the person without addressing the subject matter. In debate, that is categorized as false argument. But one can address the topic and rebut the substance as well as insult the hell out of an "opponent." That would not be considered an ad hominem attack; it would be a rebuttal with an opinion attached, which would be legitimate. Do you see the difference?

Now, don't get me wrong; being of Irish descendancy, I believe that insults are an art form whether they are given or received. Like a turd in granny's Christmas stocking, a good insult needs some polishin' and TLC. C'mon, who doesn't appreciate a proper scorching, eh? One can never master the art totally but only strive for perfection. I apologize, Madame HotCoffee, for constantly falling short of the quality insults you so well deserve.

LOL, and you can post whatever the hell your little shriveled-up black heart so desires. (Hint, this isn't Twitter; one doesn't have "followers.") Insults don't bother "me" one bit, since I seldom attach ego to much of anything on social media, especially on an anonymous blog for chrissake! (WTF?) But it sure opens the door that swings both ways, now doesn't it? In fact, I relish the opportunity to return fire at right-wing false and fragile egos invested too much in their own bullsh*t. It's cheap entertainment for my "dark heart."

I'm sorry that you have a myopic view of politics. You talk a good game about "both sides," but what we libtards detect in nearly all of your posts, are right-wing talking points that fairly consistently denigrate liberals, progressives, and/or Democrats. Evidently, your own personal interpretation of the Fux News "fair and balanced" lie is to be either on the right or on the extreme right -- IOW, Republican or Republican-lite.

F***ck thaaat!!! Why not just be honest about what "side" you are really on? Yes, there are sides in politics. There has to be, and there should be. The "third way" is just another lie perpetrated by corporatists to con us all into blending with the background herds of bland, gray fascist followers -- sporting different hairdos but not much else, wandering around aimlessly with hollow eyes and shallow thoughts like "walkers" on The Walking Dead. How convenient.

So, post #33 contains no substance, just ad hominem attacks and rather lame ones at that. Doesn't my "dark heart" deserve better and more biting insults than the thin soup you served up? It's so disappointing; please tell me ya got more than the equivalent of "you big poopy-head."

I'll read #34 later (after my eyeballs quit bleeding) and offer my studied psychological diagnosis and assessment for your exclusive enjoyment and betterment. Oh wait; they're all someone else's words. Never mind.

The mainstream media has completely forgotten about the deadliest church massacre in history, the one the US government carried out in Waco, Texas.

On Sunday, a horrifying tragedy unfolded as a mass shooting terrorist walked into a Texas church and began slaughtering innocent women, men, and children. The massacre left 26 people dead, according to police, including an unborn child who died inside his pregnant mother.

On Wednesday, the names of the deceased were released along with the heartbreaking photos of the children, two of which were only 5 and 7-years-old. The tragedy is being dubbed the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history.

Sadly, there have been many deadly massacres which have taken place inside places of worship. From the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing to the Charleston Church shooting to Sutherland Springs, over the years, psychotic terrorists have gone into churches and indiscriminately taken innocent lives.

Now, some of those in the mainstream media are calling Sutherland Springs the deadly massacre in a church in US history. However, the actual largest church massacre in history had a far greater death toll.

The US government carried out the deadliest church massacre in history and it led to the deaths of 82 men, women, and children. It all came to a violent end 24 years ago in Texas

Our source material comes from the FBI’s own vault, which contains two files on the case against Vernon Howell, also known as David Koresh. Koresh was the leader of the “Branch Davidians Seventh Day Adventists.” According to the FBI case file, Koresh was believed to have been holding people against their will at his compound in Waco, Texas, potentially guilty of “involuntary servitude and slavery” charges.

In 1992, Child Protective Services (CPS) was called in to investigate the accusations. After a thorough investigation, CPS concluded no one was being held at the compound against their will, nor any child abuse, and the federal prosecutor, who reviewed the report, saw no reason to prosecute Koresh. On October 16th, 1992, the FBI closed the case against Koresh and the allegations he was abusing children and holding his followers against their will.

we all know how it ended.

bought to you by Bill Clinton & Janet Reno

.

"A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined..."
- George Washington, First Annual Address, to both House of Congress, January 8, 1790

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
- Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Constitution, Draft 1, 1776

"I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery."
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, January 30, 1787

"What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms."
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, December 20, 1787

"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

"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 the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." - Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, August 19, 1785

"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

"On every occasion [of Constitutional interpretation] let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying [to force] what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, [instead let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Johnson, 12 June 1823

"I enclose you a list of the killed, wounded, and captives of the enemy from the commencement of hostilities at Lexington in April, 1775, until November, 1777, since which there has been no event of any consequence ... I think that upon the whole it has been about one half the number lost by them, in some instances more, but in others less. This difference is ascribed to our superiority in taking aim when we fire; every soldier in our army having been intimate with his gun from his infancy."
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Giovanni Fabbroni, June 8, 1778

“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

"To disarm the people...[i]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

"I ask who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers."
- George Mason, Address to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 4, 1788

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in 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."
- Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, October 10, 1787

"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."
- James Madison, Federalist No. 46, January 29, 1788

"The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country."
- James Madison, I Annals of Congress 434, June 8, 1789

"...the ultimate authority, wherever the derivative may be found, resides in the people alone..."
- James Madison, Federalist No. 46, January 29, 1788

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
- William Pitt (the Younger), Speech in the House of Commons, November 18, 1783

“A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves…and include, according to the past and general usuage of the states, all men capable of bearing arms… "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, Federal Farmer No. 18, January 25, 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

"This may be considered as the true palladium of liberty.... 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. Wherever standing armies are kept up, and the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any color or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction."
- St. George Tucker, Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, 1803

"The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand, arms, like law, discourage and keep the invader and the plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. The balance ofpower is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside. And while a single nation refuses to lay them down, it is proper that all should keep them up. Horrid mischief would ensue were one-half the world deprived of the use of them; for while avarice and ambition have a place in the heart of man, the weak will become a prey to the strong. The history of every age and nation establishes these truths, and facts need but little arguments when they prove themselves."
- Thomas Paine, "Thoughts on Defensive War" in Pennsylvania Magazine, July 1775

"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 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, Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, 1833

"What, Sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty .... Whenever Governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins."
- Rep. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, I Annals of Congress 750, August 17, 1789

"For it is a truth, which the experience of ages has attested, that the people are always most in danger when the means of injuring their rights are in the possession of those of whom they entertain the least suspicion."
- Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 25, December 21, 1787

"If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no resource left but in the exertion of that original right of self-defense which is paramount to all positive forms of government, and which against the usurpations of the national rulers, may be exerted with infinitely better prospect of success than against those of the rulers of an individual state. In a single state, if the persons intrusted with supreme power become usurpers, the different parcels, subdivisions, or districts of which it consists, having no distinct government in each, can take no regular measures for defense. The citizens must rush tumultuously to arms, without concert, without system, without resource; except in their courage and despair."
- Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 28

"[I]f circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their own rights and those of their fellow-citizens. This appears to me the only substitute that can be devised for a standing army, and the best possible security against it, if it should exist."
- Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 28, January 10, 1788

"As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people 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 article in their right to keep and bear their private arms."
- Tench Coxe, Philadelphia Federal Gazette, June 18, 1789

Points well taken, deepspace. In a perfect world, there would be no deadly weapons out there. I'm afraid we turned that corner a while ago, however.

"A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined..."
- George Washington, First Annual Address, to both House of Congress, January 8, 1790

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
- Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Constitution, Draft 1, 1776

"I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery."
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, January 30, 1787

"What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms."
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, December 20, 1787

"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

"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 the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." - Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, August 19, 1785

"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

"On every occasion [of Constitutional interpretation] let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying [to force] what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, [instead let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Johnson, 12 June 1823

"I enclose you a list of the killed, wounded, and captives of the enemy from the commencement of hostilities at Lexington in April, 1775, until November, 1777, since which there has been no event of any consequence ... I think that upon the whole it has been about one half the number lost by them, in some instances more, but in others less. This difference is ascribed to our superiority in taking aim when we fire; every soldier in our army having been intimate with his gun from his infancy."
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Giovanni Fabbroni, June 8, 1778

“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

"To disarm the people...[i]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

"I ask who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers."
- George Mason, Address to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 4, 1788

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in 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."
- Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, October 10, 1787

"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."
- James Madison, Federalist No. 46, January 29, 1788

"The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country."
- James Madison, I Annals of Congress 434, June 8, 1789

"...the ultimate authority, wherever the derivative may be found, resides in the people alone..."
- James Madison, Federalist No. 46, January 29, 1788

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
- William Pitt (the Younger), Speech in the House of Commons, November 18, 1783

“A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves…and include, according to the past and general usuage of the states, all men capable of bearing arms… "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, Federal Farmer No. 18, January 25, 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

"This may be considered as the true palladium of liberty.... 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. Wherever standing armies are kept up, and the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any color or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction."
- St. George Tucker, Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, 1803

"The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand, arms, like law, discourage and keep the invader and the plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. The balance ofpower is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside. And while a single nation refuses to lay them down, it is proper that all should keep them up. Horrid mischief would ensue were one-half the world deprived of the use of them; for while avarice and ambition have a place in the heart of man, the weak will become a prey to the strong. The history of every age and nation establishes these truths, and facts need but little arguments when they prove themselves."
- Thomas Paine, "Thoughts on Defensive War" in Pennsylvania Magazine, July 1775

"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 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, Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, 1833

"What, Sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty .... Whenever Governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins."
- Rep. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, I Annals of Congress 750, August 17, 1789

"For it is a truth, which the experience of ages has attested, that the people are always most in danger when the means of injuring their rights are in the possession of those of whom they entertain the least suspicion."
- Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 25, December 21, 1787

"If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no resource left but in the exertion of that original right of self-defense which is paramount to all positive forms of government, and which against the usurpations of the national rulers, may be exerted with infinitely better prospect of success than against those of the rulers of an individual state. In a single state, if the persons intrusted with supreme power become usurpers, the different parcels, subdivisions, or districts of which it consists, having no distinct government in each, can take no regular measures for defense. The citizens must rush tumultuously to arms, without concert, without system, without resource; except in their courage and despair."
- Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 28

"[I]f circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their own rights and those of their fellow-citizens. This appears to me the only substitute that can be devised for a standing army, and the best possible security against it, if it should exist."
- Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 28, January 10, 1788

"As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people 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 article in their right to keep and bear their private arms."
- Tench Coxe, Philadelphia Federal Gazette, June 18, 1789