It must never be forgotten that our fore fathers debated the reason and need of the Second Amendment. It is quite clear that it was given to us to protect us from tyranny from within our government in addition to repeal external threats. See quotes below:
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." THOMAS JEFFERSON
“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...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.” (Quoting Cesare Beccaria) THOMAS JEFFERSON
"The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it." THOMAS JEFFERSON When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty." THOMAS JEFFERSON
"An elective despotism was not the government we fought for." THOMAS JEFFERSON The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it's natural manure." THOMAS JEFFERSON
“The constitution shall never be construed...to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.” ― ALEXANDER HAMILTON
"The right of self-defense never ceases. It is among the most sacred, and alike necessary to nations and to individuals." President JAMES MONROE (November 16, 1818)
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms 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
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." THOMAS JEFFERSON, Proposed Virginia Constitution, 1776
"For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well organized and armed militia is their best security." THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826), US Founding Father, drafted the Declaration of Independence, 3rd US President. Source: Eighth Annual Message, November 8, 1808
"The said Constitution [shall] be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms." SAMUEL ADAMS of Massachusetts -- U.S. Constitution ratification convention, 1788
"...It is always dangerous to the liberties of the people to have an army stationed among them, over which they have no control...The Militia is composed of free Citizens. There is therefore no danger of their making use of their power to the destruction of their own Rights, or suffering others to invade them." SAMUEL ADAMS
"Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation... 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." JAMES MADISON, Federalist Papers, #46 at 243-244.
"The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed, and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country: but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms, shall be compelled to render military service in person." JAMES MADISON, Proposed Amendments to the Constitution June 8, 1789
"A people armed and free forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition and is a bulwark for the nation against foreign invasion and DOMESTIC OPPRESSION. JAMES MADISON (1751-1836), Father of the Constitution for the USA, 4th US President
FOLLOW THE BELOW LINK FOR MANY QUOTES OF OUR FORE FATHERS ON THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE CONTITUTION IS VERY CLEAR. THESE ARE THE MEN THAT DEBATED WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE (THE DEBATE WAS over TWO YEARS VIA PUBLICATIONS I.E. THE FEDERALIST PAPERS.
http://www.savetheguns.com/quotes.htm