Citation

Sterzer J. J. Leg. Med. (TF) 2012; 33(1): 171-199.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/01947648.2012.657993

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, and this without any qualification as to their condition or degree, as is the case in the British government. This may be considered as the true palladium of liberty.... The right of self-defense is the first law of nature; in most governments it has been the study of rulers to confine this right within the narrowest limits possible. Whenever standing armies are kept up, and the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any color or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction.(1)

Language: en