Unsafe Companions

"A standing military force, with an overgrown executive will not long be safe companions to liberty."

~James Madison

Tyranny at Home

"The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny here at home."

~James Madison

The Author of Life

"The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time; the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them." ~ Thomas Jefferson; Summary View of the Rights of British America (1774

Securing Liberty

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." ~Thomas Paine

A Republic

“A republic, if you can keep it.” ~Benjamin Franklin

Policing the Government

"The Federal government was not made the exclusive or final judge of the extent of the powers delegated to itself." ~Thomas Jefferson

Chains of Restraint

"Let no more be heard, of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution." ~Thomas Jefferson

The Necessity of the Times

"Instead of sitting down satisfied with the efforts we have already made, which is the wish of our enemies, the necessity of the times, more than ever, calls for our utmost deliberation, fortitude and perseverance." ~Samuel Adams

Carrying Arms

“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 to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” ~Thomas Jefferson; "Commonplace Book," 1774-1776

A Free Man's Right

"No Free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." ~Thomas Jefferson, Proposal to Virginia Constitution