Crossbones, you can read for yourself what they thought
“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, 1759
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. 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, proposed Virginia constitution, June 1776, Thomas Jefferson Papers, p.334 (C.J. Boyd. Ed., 1950)
“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 prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.”
- Thomas Jefferson, quoting 18th century criminologist Cesare Beccaria in “On Crimes and Punishment”, 1764.
“When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”
- Thomas Jefferson, Letters.
“The Constitution of most of our states, and the United States, assert 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; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of prosperity, and freedom of the press.”
- Thomas Jefferson, proposed Virginia Constitution, 1776
“Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life, secondly to liberty, thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can.”
“The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”
- Samuel Adams, Massachusetts ratification convention for the U. S. Constitution. 1788
“Those who would give up essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
- Benjamin Franklin, reply to Pennsylvania Assembly to the governor, November 11, 1755.
“Before a standing army can rule [in tyranny], the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of 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 bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States.”
- Noah Webster, “An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution” (1787)
“Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at the individual discretion, in private self-defense.”
- John Adams, “A Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America” 1787-88.
“To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.”
- Richard Henry Lee, Additional Letters from the Federal Farmer #53, 1788.
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined. The great object is that every man be armed. Every man who is able may have a gun.”
- Patrick Henry, Virginia ratification convention for the U. S. Constitution.
“Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived the use of them.”
- Thomas Paine, “Thoughts on Defensive War” 1775
“A free people ought to be armed. When firearms go, all goes, we need them by the hour. Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence.”
- George Washington, Boston Independence Chronicle, January 14, 1790.
