"To disarm the people
is the best and most effectual way
to enslave them."
by:
George Mason
(1725-1792), drafted the Virgina Declaration of Rights, ally of James Madison and George Washington
Source:
June 14, 1788, in the Virginia Convention on the ratification of the Constitution,
in_Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution,_
Jonathan Elliot, ed., v.3 p.380 (Philadelphia, 1836)
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Hitler, Stalin and Mao agreed!
 -- Helberg, Minnesota     
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    so did Gandhi, Jesus, and MLK
     -- Robert, Sarasota     
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    Heck, and there must be nothing wrong with "disarming" the people by perverting their voting processes in order to enslave them... we are loseing far more via those processes than by eliminating glocks and machine guns from our hands.
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US     
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    For Robert and Anonymous ... "I do believe that where there is a choice only between cowardice and violence I would advise violence." Mohandas Gandhi "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one." Jesus in Luke 22:36 “If indeed all men were Christians, and every nominal Christian was led by the spirit of Christ, there would be absolutely no need of the sword; for there would be nothing but justice, truth, and love in the world. But reason dictates, that, so long as the wicked shall use the sword in support of vice, the righteous, who are in power, must use it in defense of virtue.” From a sermon, “The Bible and The Sword” by John Fletcher, London, 1776.
     -- Mike, Mount Holly, NC     
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    Very nice, Mike.
     -- Logan, Memphis, TN     
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    Robert, since Gandhi, Jesus and MLK agree, your zero rating is totally illogical, and obviously wrong! Reston, our country is a Republic, not a democracy. For example, Bill Clinton used democracy to pass NAFTA with a simple majority, by calling it an Agreement rather than a Treaty, which would have required a 2/3 vote in Congress to pass. Our government is "perverting their voting processes" and getting around the Constitution. When the UN bans guns world-wide, the 2nd Amendment will fall, and with it ... our country! Democracy will have aided in our downfall.
     -- Joe, Rochester, MI     
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    As with all virtues, using non-violent means to solve a problem is a choice. Neither Gandhi, Jesus, or MLK advocated disarming the citizen -- they advocated non-cooperation with evil -- note, that when the authorities are the only ones with arms, you will see the kind of oppression and persecution that Gandhi, Jesus & MLK were challenging.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Gandhi condemned the disarming of Indians by the British as the "blackest misdeed". He was against tyranny, not against the use of arms to end it.
     -- David L. Rosenthal, Hollywood     
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    As a big fan of George Mason, probably one of the most learned of the Constitutional founders, I have to give this quote a top drawer.
     -- Shooterman, Beaumont, Tx     
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     -- Terry Berg, Occidental, CA      
    The first act of the Nazi's when taking power was to seize all the guns. No subjugation of the common people can occur when they wield the power to overthrow those who would take from them their property, freedom, and their very life's blood. Think Nazi Germany. Politicians prefer unarmed peasants. Think Colonial Briton.
     -- Rick Moore, Houston, TX     
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    How is the zero rating totally illogical, since Gandhi, Jesus, and MLK didn't want to enslave people, but rather to liberate them through peace? Also, it seems to me that if the only thing holding up a country is its weapons, not much is being said about the quality of its people. For, as Gandhi said, "Violence is the weapon of the weak; nonviolence is the weapon of the strong."
     -- Anonymous     
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    Also, I'm aware that Gandhi thought that the disarming of Indians was wrong, and, as Reston pointed out, he was against tyranny. But he did not advocate the use of guns and other such weapons against evil: "I am prepared to die. But there is no cause for which I am prepared to kill."
     -- Anonymous     
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     -- Anonymous      
     -- Jeremy, Latham, NY      
     -- Don, Erie, PA      
    Truer words have never been spoken....
     -- Dave, Fort Collins, CO     
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    George Mason spoke the words, but he was quoting Sir William Keith's advice to the British Parliament. The words were not his and were spoken on Jun14, 1788 during the VA constituation debates and documented in the transcripts..He voted no on accepting the Constituition.
     -- Ed O'Dwyer, Alpharetta,GA     
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    There is a time for evrything. A time for peaceful protest and a time for violent protest. Ecls: 3:1.

     -- Timothy Fite, Cadillac, Mi.     
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     -- Al, DC      
    George Mason stated an obvious truth. True then, True now, and has been true throughout history and will continue to be true for all eternity. As a friend of mine in the Canadian Armed Forces points out, Peace can only be achieved through superior fire power. And liberty can only be maintained by an armed populace. Until guns are uninvented and all armies disbanded, and all criminals disarmed...the people need to remain equally armed as a matter of self preservation.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    This quote is exactly on target, and why libs like Robert, Reston, and O'Dwyer can't understand it is beyond me. The liberal mind is truly a wonder to behold. Cognitive dissonance is the only answer I can think of.
     -- jim k, Austin, Tx     
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    Peace wil only be achieved, by better constitutional composition and enforcement, neat of SENATES, electoral college, and misconduct.

    Since USCA 2 was to protect gun possession, by state militias, charged with SLAVE REVOLT SUPPRESSION, and I don't own slaves, and all sorts of dweebs are ranting, about how we should not notice riot OR the need, for a new constitution, but we should get more guns, at the riot, hey now!

    Did anyone notice GW Bush walked, after making sure 911 happened, and then he lied, about WMDs, to get two wars and privatize Iraq's oil? Did anyone notice Barney the 1st dog died?

    Doggies are nice animals, but if you let them get fresh, hey now. But even if you name one of them Congressman Frank, and he humps your leg, he'll NEVER shoot you and rant about how you should have got a gat, to protect yourself.

    If you think we need 223-y.o. constitutional media, written by slavers, to define our interactions, you are mighty crazy. Look. Your phone can't use Windows 2000. It's a NO-BRAINER. You aren't in a slave militia. If there's a riot, and you want a gun, you need to get a smarter lawyer or 20 of them, or bang-stick gonna go bye-bye.

    Can you SMELLLLLL, what Barack is cooking?
     -- Bob, Mountain View     
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    Bob, your ad hominims, mis-direction, off topic, half-truths and outright theological sound bites used to misinform only play to the other captive ignorant and intellectual dishonest. It is an individual sovereign's right to self preservation. Your knowledge of USA slavery is extremely lacking. If the slaves would have armed themselves and organized in militias, that form of slavery would have ended long before it did. Of course, access to arms was far more difficult for those earlier slaves, while if the frog's warming pot soon to be complete slaves give up their weapons, it will be as difficult to throw off the new slave masters as it was for America's first slaves.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    To the 'A' from Reston, Voter fraud is now an absolute. Mr. Obamunist Goodwrench the assassin clearly lost all the swing states and with reported turn outs of 108% (not 1 vote for an opponent - AND - not investigated), over 1 and a half million oppsed votes in California, etc., etc. etc. the election went to the head puppeteer's slave master of choice. Franklin's Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting for what to have for supper and, freedom is a well armed lamb contesting the vote" is an extremely accurate example of the here subject topic.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    The "A" from Reston — so, you admit that the god/government is perverting the voting process in order to enslave the sovereign We The People? Why would you compound the further enslaving process by comparison of which event is worse? hmmm
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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     -- Mary, MI      
     -- Ronw13, OR      
    Jesus was crucified; Gandhi was shot' so was MLK and before him, JFK  and RFK — ALL by bad people!

     -- Bob, East Syracuse, NY     
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    Separating the mentality ill from their firearms heightens their senses. This conditioned heightened sense response accessed, elevates the mental health and stability of the patient. Mentality healthy individuals have no need for firearms.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    P. S. Heightened senses promote heightened freedoms and abilities.


     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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