Guarantees of Liberty

Among the natural rights…are these: First, a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can. These are evident branches of, rather than deductions from, the duty of self-preservation, commonly called the first law of nature.

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- Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists (November 20, 1772)

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A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.”

- George Washington - Speech of Jan. 7, 1790,in the Boston Independent Chronicle, Jan. 14, 1790

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A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

- 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution, commonly referred to as the Bill of Rights

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http://www.freemarketnews.com/Analysis/180/4313/2006-03-29.asp?wid=180&nid=4313