"[i]f 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 own rights and those of their fellow-citizens. this appears to me the only substitute that can be devised for a standing army, and the best possible security against it, if it should exist." - alexander hamilton, federalist no. 28, january 10, 1788 "as civil rulers, not having their duty to the people before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed by the article in their right to keep and bear their private arms." - tench coxe, philadelphia federal gazette, june 18, 1789
United States