"[T]he people as ultimate sovereigns, retain the ultimate power -- and even the duty -- to overthrow any government that fails to respect their authority."
by:
Glenn Harlan Reynolds
(1960- ) Beauchamp Brogan Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee
Source:
The Right to Keep and Bear Arms Under the Tennessee Constitution, A Case Study in Civic Republican Thought, 61 TENN. L. R. 647, 652 (1994)
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Reader comments about this quote:
A most precious foundation and primal right stated simply and to the point. The abject statist theocracy that infests this land (government) does not just fail to respect the authority of the ultimate sovereign and his/her power, it (government) absolutely loathes and repudiates such. To overthrow the current de facto despots would be appropriate, to peaceably return to a Constitutionally defined representative republic would be the ultimate sovereign's crowning victory. V for victory
 -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    This is a direct reflection of the nation's founding principles.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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     -- Lilkidmom, 49120      
    Suzanna Gratia Hupp explains meaning of 2nd Amendment! This is on You Tube - I keep access to the 9 minute video put up by the Constitutionman. I like the faces of the Senators she is addressing especially Chuck Schumer who always want to abuse the meanings of the Constitution of the United States and each amendment. One of the many who are unfit to serve.
     -- Elaine, Atlanta     
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    I can only hope that the rest of you are NOT in favor of Hillary and her destructive tendancies as in evidence presently, and to her would-be world-wide gun-grab if she became POTUS ! ...and I'm afraid Bill is wth her on this; lost it for him with NAFTA and loss of Glass-Steagal.
     -- Dr. Tom LaMar, Keeseville, NY     
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    I can't imagine anyone on this site supporting Hillary, with the possible exception of Reston and Waffler. As to the quote, our government has paid no heed to the people for many years, the current administration being the worst in that regard.
     -- jim k, Austin,Tx     
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    Yes! A thousand times yes! And in the USA we do every two years for Congress and every for years for the Executive Branch. It should never be done by gun and anyone who tries to do it by gun should be squashed like a bug.
     -- Waffler, Smith     
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    whin I said "we do it" I meant of course we overthrow the government. That is what elections and democracy is. Sadly to many do not know that democracy is all about overthrowing the government regularly and so they cling to some ill begotten ideas of guns being for that purpose. So sad so very very sad!
     -- Waffler, Smith     
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    Waffler, FYI: the form of government most hated and spoken against by the founders was Democracy. A Constitutionally limiting Representative Republic was put into place so We The People would never have to suffer under a Democracy. Democracy is all about overthrowing the inherent / inalienable rights of man, law, and justice in a government of men (as is averse to a government of law). As long as the statist theocracy has a near monopoly on its socialist teaching missionaries in government schools, universities, industrial media complex, etc., a real overthrow may be the only answer. It is so, so VERY sad ! ! ! that those willing patrons of the statist theocracy infesting this land to believe that changing the despotic prison guards any term of years is an overthrow. Such referenced Democracy's vote only changes the administrators of compelled compliance, license, victimless crimes, larceny with impunity, rejection of individual rights and ownership, policy on funny money, and other criminal usurpations, despotism and tyranny. "Man is no less a slave because he is allowed to choose a new master once in a term of years." (Lysander Spooner) Should Mr. Obamunist Goodwrench the assassin / war monger, with his hit list and mass murderous agenda be treated as he treats others? NO ! ! ! He should be tried for his crimes, as justice would claim; not as a Democracy would allow. BUT, guns may be the last resort to combat such ilk.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Gee Waffler. I'm impressed with your single minded dedication to a completely flawed idea..."Democracy". We have been voting for a long time now and somehow we came to the brink of straight up Communism anyway. How do you suppose that happened in a free and liberty oriented "Democracy"? Simple...no matter who we vote for, they lie and sell us out. But of course the "next" bunch of politicians will be ok right? Wrong! We'll keep getting the same thing no matter how we vote...our history bears this out as fact. And just for fun: The definition of insanity - "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results each time." What we are doing, and what you are advocating...is insane.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    Viva la France!
     -- Anonymous     
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    Absolutely!! Leave it to Waffler to distort the quote to mean the opposite.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    " That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of thesr ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it ..."

    U. S. Declaration of Independence

    Anno Mirabilis 1776
     -- Patrick Henry, Red Hill     
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    Hits the Nail on the Head Every Single Time !
    Semper Fi and God Bless President Trump for having the Guts to call a spade a spade. We have an Open Vision to prosperity and destiny.
     -- Ronw13, OR     
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    The lack of awareness of the mentally ill is eventually going find themselves "overthrowing" themselves.  A passionate search and concern for mental health is the best course for a balanced social condition.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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