"A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves... And include all men capable of bearing arms... To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms... The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle. —
...whereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them...."
—Richard H. Lee, Additional Letters from the Federal Farmer 53, 1788