"Effecting to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power. * These same reasons would later b…"

"A well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defen…"

"[T]he people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves."

"[P]eople have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves."

"It is true, the yeomanry of the country possess the lands, the weight of property, possess arms, and are too strong a…"

"As to the species of exercise, I advise the gun. While this gives a moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness,…"

"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well inform…"

"What country before ever existed a century and half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties …"

"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them."

"Keeping among us, in times of peace, standing armies and ships of war."