The Second Amendment

Let’s discuss the history of the Second Amendment, including who wrote it, why it was written, and how it was intended to protect people from a tyrannical government.

James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States, was the primary author of the Second Amendment. Madison, along with other Founding Fathers, was concerned about the possibility of a tyrannical government. They had just won a hard-fought battle for independence from British rule, and they were well aware of the dangers of a government with unchecked power. Madison believed that a well-armed citizenry was necessary to prevent the government from becoming tyrannical. He drafted the Second Amendment to ensure that the people had the right to keep and bear arms to defend themselves against a tyrannical government.

It is important to note that the Second Amendment was intended to protect the people from a tyrannical government, not from each other. While gun violence is a serious issue in the United States, the Second Amendment was not written to promote violence or to allow people to settle disputes with firearms. Instead, it was written to ensure that the people had the means to protect themselves from a government that might become oppressive.

In conclusion, the Second Amendment was written by James Madison to allow the people a way to protect themselves from a tyrannical government. The amendment was also designed to ensure that the states had a well-regulated militia that could defend them against any federal encroachment on their rights. While the Second Amendment has been subject to much debate and controversy, it is clear that it was not written to promote violence or to allow people to settle disputes with firearms. Instead, it was written to ensure that the people had the means to protect themselves from a government that might become oppressive.

"…arms like laws discourage and keep the invader and the plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property."

-Samuel Adams-

"No clause in the Constitution could by any rule of construction be conceived to give to Congress a power to disarm the people."

-William Rawle-

"The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."

-James Mason-

"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-

"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence."

-George Washington-

"Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion for the defense of the country, the overthrow of tyranny, or private self-defense."

-John Adams-

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."

"I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery."

-Thomas Jefferson-

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."

-Benjamin Franklin-

"...to disarm the people ― that was the best and most effectual way to enslave them."

-George Mason-