“Free men do not ask for permission to bear arms”
“Free men do not ask for permission to bear arms” is a pro-gun saying that has been printed on several images. The saying was posted on Twitter on August 30, 2009, and became popular on images printed in 2013.
“‘Free Men do not ask for permission to bear arms.’ -Thomas Jefferson” was posted on Twitter on December 1, 2013. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) never said it. “No Freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms” was in a Jefferson draft of the Virginia Constitution in 1776, but was not in the final document. “For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well organized and armed militia is their best security” was in Jeffersion’s Eighth State of the Union Address, on November 8, 1808.
“Free people don’t ask for permission” is a related saying.
Wikiquote: Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, relating to the right of people to bear arms, was enacted as part of the Bill of Rights, its ratification occurring on 15 December 1791 with the support of the Virginia Legislature.
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Thomas Jefferson
No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
. Proposed Virginia Constitution, June, 1776.
. Occasionally this quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson is given with the following citation: Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 (C.J.Boyd, Ed., 1950). The publication exists, but the quote does not. And the editor’s correct name is Julian P. Boyd, not C.J. Boyd. In other cases, this quote is added to the end of a proven Jefferson quote “No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms…” Thomas Jefferson, Proposed Virginia Constitution, 1776, Jefferson Papers 344. What he actually said, in context of the Virginia Constitution drafts is:
Draft 1: “No Freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms.”
Draft 2: “No Freeman shall be debarred the use of arms [in his own lands or tenements].”
Draft 3: “No Freeman shall be debarred the use of arms [in his own lands or tenements].”
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For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well organized and armed militia is their best security.
. Thomas Jefferson, Eighth State of the Union Address (8 November 1808).
Monticello.org
No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms (Spurious Quotation)
An Article Courtesy Of The Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia.
This sentence comes from Thomas Jefferson’s three drafts of the Virginia Constitution. The text varies slightly from the first draft to the subsequent drafts:
First Draft: “No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms.”
Second Draft: “No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms [within his own lands or tenements].”
Third Draft: “No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms [within his own lands or tenements]”
This sentence does not appear in the Virginia Constitution as adopted.
Twitter
freedom fighter mom
@freedom4USA
TCOT_Talk: RT @Slarue Free men do not ask for permission to bear arms. #tcot #cwot #sgp #tlot #iamthe mob http://ff.im/-7ovSI
1:38 PM - 30 Aug 2009
Twitter
40 BY MY SIDE
@SON_0F_LIBERTY
#Free men don’t ask for permission!
9:47 AM - 4 Nov 2011
Twitter
Lady Lashay
@LadyLashay1776
Free people do not ask for permission to bear arms. #truth
7:23 PM - 10 Feb 2013
Twitter
Rick@BFTM Group
@AZCombatAthlete
And all the rights of the bill of rights are only protected by the 2A. Free men don’t ask for permission to bear arms or to speak their mind
8:14 PM - 23 Mar 2013
Twitter
The Dark Patriot
@casiichandler
“Free Men do not ask for permission to bear arms.” -Thomas Jefferson
12:20 AM - 1 Dec 2013
Twitter
Gun Shots
@Gun_Shots
Free Men Do Not Ask For Permission To Bear Arms -
6:50 PM - 28 Jul 2017