Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in 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 band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States. A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power.

Noah Webster
An Examination of The Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution
Philadelphia, 1787

We pray that it will not come to shooting in South Africa, but if it does – God forbid – consider who is likely to win between a group armed primarily with AK47s and no skill in their use and another group armed with sporting rifles and considerable skill in their use. Numbers would not matter particularly in such a confrontation. Formal armies can defeat other formal armies, and they can put down mobs of agitators, as in China. They cannot defeat a population completely armed with simple old-fashioned rifles. What the disarmers never recognize is that episodes like Tiananmen Square can never occur if every citizen maintains his own rifle in his house, as in Switzerland.
   
Jeff Cooper
Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries
Vol. 1, No. 10
15 November 1993

We believe the evidence is absolutely clear on this.

This system is expensive and not effective. It’s not the right way to spend dollars on both gun control and crime control.

Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
May 19, 2006
Harper tells Ontario, Quebec to butt out on gun registry complaints
[It’s going to be a rough road getting rid of this dangerous encroachment on civil rights but Harper appears to be determined.  Good for him!–Joe]

We cannot rely on the federal government to enact responsible legislation that will prevent criminals from possessing and using guns. In order to create safer streets and neighborhoods in California, we must act now to stop illegal gun trafficking at its source.

Bill Lockyer
California State Attorney General
Lockyer touts gun control Amid area visit, officials push bills
May 16, 2006
[You would think that someone smart enough to get themselves elected to such a high office would realize that government cannot actually prevent things.  Government can only punish acts that have already been committed.  Never mind the little “shall not be infringed” issue in the Bill of Rights which means Mr. Lockyer is actually admitting to a felony.  But as we already know, the law doesn’t apply to ‘them’.–Joe]

No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms.

Thomas Jefferson
[Either Jefferson was wrong or we are not free.  Others may come to a different conclusion but I have concluded we are not free.–Joe]

To get the bad customs of a country changed and new ones, though better, introduced, it is necessary first to remove the prejudices of the people, enlighten their ignorance, and convince them that their interests will be promoted by the proposed changes, and this is not the work of a day.

Benjamin Franklin
1781
[Gun rights advocates still have a lot of work to do.–Joe]

Michael Howard is “Home Secretary” of the U.K., sort of a national chief of police. In his words, “Gun ownership is a privilege, not a right, and the use of firearms in self-defense is not acceptable for civilians in this country” (presumably it is okay for a soldier). So much for The Land of Hope and Glory! Die if you must but do not shoot back. 
   
Jeff Cooper
From Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries
Vol. 4, No. 13
November 1996
[Brought to mind by reading this.  A woman in England gets five years in jail for a non-functional, blank-firing gun stored in her home by her boyfriend.  Guns and their owners are treated like Jews in Nazi Germany.  This woman was guilty of hiding a Jew.–Joe]