For those of you who doubt that our founding fathers did not wish for each individual to keep their own arms, this page should clear that up fairly easily.  For those of you who know the truth about our founding father's wishes, this should help provide fuel for your crusade.  There are quotes from several of those "wise dead white guys" on this page.  I hope they help.

Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia:

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.  Such  laws make it 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." -- Commonplace Book :: quoting from      On Crimes and Punishment, by Cesare Beccaria, a criminologist.

"The Constitution of most of our states (and of the United States) asserts that All power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed."

George Mason, of Virginia:

"When the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, who was the governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that he should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually.  I ask, who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers."

"That the People have a right to keep and bear Arms; that a well regulated Militia, composed of the Body of the People, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe Defence of a free state."

Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia:

"A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves...and include all men capable of bearing arms...To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms...The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle." -- from The Federal Farmer.

James Madison, of Virginia:

The Constitution preserves "the advantage of being armed, which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation...the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." -- The Federalist, No. 46

Alexander Hamilton, of New York:

"If circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude, that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little if at all inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their rights and those of their fellow citizens." -- The Federalit, No. 29

Tench Coxe, of Pennsylvania:

"The militia, who are in fact the effective part of the people at large, will render many tropps quite unnecessary.  They will form a powerful check upon the regular troops, and will generally be sufficient to over-awe them." -- An American Citizen, Oct. 21, 1787

"Who are the militia?  Are they not ourselves?  Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American....The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God, it will ever remain, in the hands of the people." -- The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb.20, 1788

"As the military forces which must occasionally be raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed by the next article in their right to keep and bear their private arms." -- Federal Gazette, June 18, 1789

Noah Webster, of Pennsylvania:

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe.  The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States.  A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power." -- An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, Philidelphia, 1787

Thomas Pain, of Pennsylvania:

"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property.  Horrid mischeif would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them. -- Thoughts on Defensive War, 1775

"...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 one half the world deprived the use of them..."

Fisher Ames, of Massachusetts:

"The rights of concience, of bearing arms, of changing the government, are declared to be inherent in the people." -- a letter to F.R. Minoe

Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts:

"What, sir, is the use of militia?  It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty...Whenever Government means to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to  destroy the militia, in order to raise a standing army upon its ruins." -- Debate, US House of Representatives, August, 17, 1789

Samuel Adams, of Massachusetts:

"The said Constitution shall be never construed to autorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms." -- Massachusetts' ratification convention.

George Washington, The Man Himself...

"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good"

The Second Amendment to the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution

"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."