Posted on 12/12/2010 11:33:59 AM PST by driftdiver
If you look at the values and the historical record, you will see that the Founding Fathers never intended guns to go unregulated, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer contended Sunday.
Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Breyer said history stands with the dissenters in the court's decision to overturn a Washington, D.C., handgun ban in the 2008 case "D.C. v. Heller."
Breyer wrote the dissent and was joined by Justices John Paul Stevens, David H. Souter and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He said historians would side with him in the case because they have concluded that Founding Father James Madison was more worried that the Constitution may not be ratified than he was about granting individuals the right to bear arms.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
He belongs in the proletariate, because he’s the worst type of snob: ignorant, arrogant and incompetant.
The man isn’t even book smart. He’s learned nothing from history or from our Founders. He’s cherry picked to suit his own Marxist “feelings.”
He apparently has never heard of the Minutemen.
Very well put.
Merry Christmas.
No. They thought it was a good idea for the citizenry to be armed, especially against powers like him.
Stevie has been drinking the bong water again.
...you will see that the Founding Fathers never intended guns to go unregulated...
Cannons were unregulated. You would have thunk that they would have been regulated if anything was.
The Founding Fathers on the Second Amendment
“I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.”
George Mason
Co-author of the Second Amendment
during Virginia’s Convention to Ratify the Constitution, 1788
“A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves …”
Richard Henry Lee
writing in Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republic, Letter XVIII, May, 1788.
“The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full posession of them.”
Zachariah Johnson
Elliot’s Debates, vol. 3 “The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution.”
“… the people are confirmed by the next article in their right to keep and bear their private arms”
Philadelphia Federal Gazette
June 18, 1789, Pg. 2, Col. 2
Article on the Bill of Rights
“And that the said Constitution 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
quoted in the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, August 20, 1789, “Propositions submitted to the Convention of this State”
The Founding Fathers on Arms
“Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.”
George Washington
First President of the United States
“The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside … Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.”
Thomas Paine
“To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.”
Richard Henry Lee
American Statesman, 1788
“The great object is that every man be armed.” and “Everyone who is able may have a gun.”
Patrick Henry
American Patriot
“Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?”
Patrick Henry
American Patriot
“Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not.”
Thomas Jefferson
Third President of the United States
“The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that … it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; … “
Thomas Jefferson
letter to Justice John Cartwright, June 5, 1824. ME 16:45.
“The best we can help for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.”
Alexander Hamilton
The Federalist Papers at 184-8
Can you believe that a sitting Supreme Court justice, who is sworn to rule on the Constitution alone, would say such a thing? It calls into questions his very qualification to serve.
I agree with you on two of the three and raise you an Alito. Thomas is an idiot and comes off as one whenever he opens his mouth. He was a token pick who would never have been selected were he a white man but tokens can vote and he votes just fine.
I loved this one though:
"Therefore, Madison included the Second Amendment to appease the states, Breyer said."
No kidding there Einstein. Why would the states have joined a union that didn't include the laws they wanted?
Clearly, you are the idiot. Thomas is the best judge on the bench.
Liberals and atheists only quote our Sacred text and Constitution when they believe they can use it to cow us. When they believe they can win with their twisted interpretations, they love them both.
The primary purpose of firearms is to enable people to defend their persons, families, and property at times when the police are unable (or unwilling) to do so.
Unable: the police will rarely arrive in time to stop a crime in progress, even if the victim has a chance to call them.
Unwilling: during the LA riots and Crown Heights riots, people were essentially on their own, the police were for the most part standing down.
Bingo.
While researching natural born citizen..in the old newspapers..a Founder was quoted they added the right to bear arms to protect the citizens from the government.
Have lost the newspaper article due to hard drive burn out.
The search began at the Williamsburg website..in the Gazette.
Sarah can increase the number and pack the court when we elect her in 2012.
And how on Earth will that happen? lol. They have to be willing to leave. They cannot be forced out by Sarah. Wow! Stunning how FREEPERS need to know the workings of the government.
Exactly. And would 18th Century Americans have joined a Union that had the right to take away their guns?
but with the ratification of the Constitution it ultimately gave people the right to bear arms so what the hell is Breyer’s point?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.