evidence: The claim: Did George Washington say citizens should arm themselves against the government? A photo of a plaque circulating on social media attributes a quote to George Washington that says: "A free people ought not only 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." [...] We find the claim that George Washington made the statement that often accompanies the Second Amendment to be PARTLY FALSE, based on our research. The quotation attributed to him is correct in its first words but then takes his speech out of context.