“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined… The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun.” – Patrick Henry
While famous to this day for his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, Patrick Henry made it clear where he stood on the right to keep and bear arms many times! This quote came from another famous speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention in June 1778.