When I write about gun control, it’s normally to make wonky points about how gun ownership reduces crime by changing the cost-benefit analysis of potential bad guys.
Today, in honor of Bill of Rights Day, let’s change the focus and celebrate the ratification of the 2nd Amendment. It was on this day, back in 1791, that the right to keep and bear arms was added to the Constitution.
To celebrate that freedom, here are some wise observations by some of America’s Founders. We’ll start with Thomas Jefferson.
Next is Samuel Adams.
Here’s what George Mason had to say.
Thomas Paine had the right perspective.
And we’ll finish up by sharing some wisdom from James Madison.
P.S. I feel quite confident that all of these quotes are genuine (not an easy task when perusing the Internet).
P.P.S. Maybe I’m being a Pollyanna, but it does seem that more folks on the left are coming to their senses on the issue of gun control.
- In 2012, I shared some important observations from Jeffrey Goldberg, a left-leaning writer for The Atlantic. In his column, he basically admitted his side was wrong about gun control.
- Then, in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained how real-world events have led him to become a supporter of private gun ownership.
- In 2015, I shared a column by Jamelle Bouie in Slate, who addressed the left’s fixation on trying to ban so-called assault weapons and explains that such policies are meaningless.
- More recently, in 2017, Leah Libresco wrote in the Washington Post that advocates of gun control are driven by emotion rather empirical research and evidence.
- Last but not least, Alex Kingsbury in 2019 acknowledged the futility of gun control in a column for the New York Times.
