#7. “The great object is, that every man be armed.” […] Every one who is able may have a gun.” -Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was the Rand Paul of his day, a hardcore libertarian with the gift of oratory. Here in his speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention of the Constitution in 1788 he argues that it is folly to expect the U.S. Congress to arm the militias. Henry is debating over whose job it is to make sure that the people have guns. He did not trust the congress being in charge of the militia, and expected that the civil power of the people should arm themselves. Henry believed that if things were left to Congress, that people of New Hampshire might vote against arming the people of Virginia. Better that it was left to the states, and therefore, the people.
