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Sen. Bob Smith has succeeded in amending an upcoming appropriations bill to beat back the latest wave of Clinton administration disrespect for two key elements of a free citizenry -- privacy and the right to keep and bear arms. Senator Smith is to be praised for keeping his eye on some balls that might have been lost in the smoke of scandal and misinformation that the Clinton Administration seems endlessly to emit. Actually, few things could make the need for vigorous defense of 2nd Amendment rights clearer than the ongoing spectacle of Clinton['s] contempt for the citizens he is supposed to serve. For the 2nd Amendment is really in the Constitution to give men like Bill Clinton something to think about when their ambition gets particularly over-inflated. The Founders added the 2nd Amendment so that when, after a long train of abuses, a government evinces a methodical design upon our natural rights, we will have the means to protect and recover our rights. That is why the right to keep and bear arms was included in the Bill of Rights.

Alan Keyes#25

PoliticsFreedomRights

About this quote

What does it mean?
Protecting gun rights is essential to prevent government overreach and tyranny.
In plain terms
Gun rights keep government in check.
What can you take from it?
Defend gun rights.

Where it applies

  • legislative debate
  • constitutionality
  • civic duty

Putting it to work

  • support Second Amendment
  • limit government power

Questions to consider

  • Does arms prevent tyranny?
  • Is liberty threatened?

Another view

The connection between guns and preventing tyranny is debated.

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