James Madison Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"Americans need never fear their government
because of the advantage of being armed,
which the Americans possess over the people
of almost every other nation."

by:	James Madison (1751-1836), Father of the Constitution for the USA, 4th US President
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Categories:	America, Arms, Constitution, Disarmament, Freedom, Government, Guns, Liberty, Militia, President
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Reader comments about this quote:

Good -- G.G.
Well, at least we can shoot back before they skin us alive. : ) -- David L. Rosenthal, Hollywood
Since this is provably incorrect (just look at the Bush II administration and its lies and illegal activities which are abusing The People on a daily basis), it is just nonsense. -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US 1
James Madison had NO idea what he was talking about! It's not like he ever did anything important, drafted a Constitution, or knew what it took to keep a country free from oppression! -- Logan, Memphis, TN 1
Americans do fear their government, and they have been disarmed -- in more ways than just banning guns. In truth, the US Constitution is mute and without a constituency. We are a shadow of the Republic we were supposed to be. We are a bankrupted nation, and every political move now is to remove every limit to power the Constitution ever placed on government. Just pay attention to all the bills before Congress today. It is a crying shame. And an armed revolution isn't going to save us -- our country was stolen by lies and deception, and we will have to take it back with the only weapon that can do the job -- the Truth. -- E Archer, NYC 1
Logan and E. Archer have it right. What a bunch of idiot bumpkin ignoramasseuses (with apologies to Bugs) those 'framers' were! And just look at the mess they created for us! \|\| E. Archer's reference to Switzerland in another post makes the most convincing argument for the ownership of weapons by the populace at large. Granted, Switzerland has a culture which eschews violence more than the culture of the US does, but that's an issue of culture and not of the value or danger of owning weapons. \|\| In Britain, where the gun ban is virtually absolute, we have the following USDOJ statistics: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/html/cjusew96/crpr.htm \|\| Actually, the British would be better off if they had America's problems instead of the ones created by the British government; Britain's overall violent crime rate is higher than the American rate. \|\| Gun crime in Britain is soaring to record levels. Pre-WWI Britain did not register guns, and London Bobbies who found themselves in need usually could borrow one from the citizen-on-the-street. After the war, some politicians feared veterans might become violent and started a registry and restrictions on carry rights. After WWII, the restrictions were expanded as was the registration requirement. It always sounded at least somewhat reasonable, and always accompanied with the disclaimer that the registry would never be used for confiscation. Then a school incident similar to our Columbine prompted mass anti-gun hysteria - and registered guns were confiscated. - http://www.ejectejecteject.com/archives/000013.html \|\| Lucius Annaeus Seneca "the younger", ca. 4 BC - 65 AD: "Quemadmoeum gladis nemeinum occidit, occidentis telum est." ("A sword is never a killer, it's a tool in the killer's hands.") \|\| As E. Archer correctly asserts, it's NOT the weapons we have that will restore this country to one in which the much lauded and much ignored Constitution is, in fact, the 'law of the land' - it's an engaged and educated populace. Fat chance that'll happen! (unfortunately) In any event, these are TWO different issues which are not joined at the hip. -- Terry Berg, Occidental, CA 1
Its good to see such intellegence from my fellow countymen. If only there were more of you. -- Anonymous, Raleigh, NC 1
If people like Anon in Reston had their way, the government would have total control over the populace, and we would be defenseless to fight tyranny. -- Mike, Mount Holly, NC 1
But at least we'd be spiritual... Or something like that... -- Logan, Memphis, TN
Hey Anon from Reston...feel free to enlighten us with some details to you 'provably incorrect' theory. I'll light a candle and listen nicely. After that we can talk about the tens of millions who were "abused" by Hitler, Stalin and Mao across eur-asia with almost embarrassing ease after they had been unarmed by these 3 and their useful idiots. -- Helberg, Minnesota
Unconstitutional BATFE, FBI, CIA and other alphabet soup agents don’t outnumber us, but our taxes arm them with the best arms our money can buy. Corrupt legislators leave us defenseless. A dozen fully armed agents will murder the People one home at a time, and provide a reason to label us a Patriot Act terrorist. -- Joe, Rochester, MI
Just what one would expect from a freedom loving unpatriotic American, I suppose he'd say the Patriot Act is violation of human rights as well. -- G�l�k Zolt�n Leenderdt Franco Buday, Vancouver, GVRD(Paine Cnty), Coastal Lwr Mainland BC(State of Neo Sumer), U.S. of Eh!
Again, I must ask. What is the source for this quote. I subscribe to your quote service via e-mail and if using these quotes, I am castigated for not furnishing a source, I begin to question the validity of all your quotes. I would suggest finding sources, giving them, or eliminating the said quotes from your archives. -- Harvey Russell, Beaumont, TX
Harvey: We endeavour to find the source of all quotes. It is often through the help of our subscribers. I have found an excerpt from Federalist #46 for which this quote may be a paraphrase: "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. " http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed46.htm -- Editor, Liberty Quotes 1
And there you have it... -- Logan, Memphis, TN
agree with Helberg, Minnesota and Joe, Rochester, MI -- BB, Elberton, Ga.
Oh my, its like this. 1st the United States Constitution can not be rewrote! However if you know the law every state has a Constitution that is called the State Constitution. Now, every state can add bills are attachments to thers Constitution.That is where people are getting thangs confused. As someone that believes in her country and knows the laws of the land has this to say. Unless you do your homework and learn what all of aleast the 1st 10 Presedent's has do for our country. Oh and learn the meaning and how to read it correctly. You will never realize how important everything that have done when it comes to the laws of United States and there laws apply to you each and every day. When you realize that, you will see how much these laws peotect you. I also know times have changed and some of the State Constitution laws need to change with the time in present but I believe the US Constitution should never change. It is there to protect us and I dont know about you but I like the right to carry a gun and God knows I love the right of free speech. I am not willing to give these rights up for nothen. I will fight to the end for them. -- S,mom, Greenville, SC 1
“ ⋯ all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.” (Declaration of Independence) Americans suffer under and, fear the occupying statist theocracy currently infesting this land, to which they have become accustomed to. Said theocracy has replaced the individual sovereign’s servants along with originally intended representation. Such servants were to uniquely represent each person’s unalienable rights and liberty at/by “the laws of nature and of nature’s God” and justice within “a republican form of government”. The current enslaving theocracy is pushing to extreme, the suffering and fear of the individual noble free sovereigns. Fear and sufferable destruction of rights, liberty, peace and prosperity are growing to an non-sufferable point where, the “advantage of being armed” - will be called on to abolish the form of government from which they are suffering. -- Mike, Norwalk 2
-- Ronw13, ID
The more armaments, the less the intelligent. -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown
Sillik, can you provide a correlation between arms possession and intelligence or the study you are drawing from? -- Mike, Norwalk
Mike, Norwalk: Simple observation presents the firearm owner unable to decide right from wrong, but the final arbitrator in a conflict in the mind of firearm owner, comes from the power of the situation, the power of the firearm. The intelligent, however, wish to decide terms and fair conditions. -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown

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