The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - origin of the "right to keep and bear arms"

Tamara · August 21, 2002, 08:47 AM

Taking it back to the Angles and the Saxons, a distinction between thralls and free men was that free men could bear arms, while slaves could not.

Joyce Lee Malcolm has done a wonderful study in her book To Keep And Bear Arms: The Origins of an Anglo-American Right, try reading it.

Englishmen once had a reputation as "the freest subjects under Heaven", as they had the right "to be guarded and defended from all Violence and Force, by their own Arms, kept in their own hands, and used at their own charge under their Prince".

August 21, 2002, 08:47 AM	#7
Tamara Moderator Emeritus Join Date: March 11, 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 16,002	agricola, Taking it back to the Angles and the Saxons, a distinction between thralls and free men was that free men could bear arms, while slaves could not. Joyce Lee Malcolm has done a wonderful study in her book To Keep And Bear Arms: The Origins of an Anglo-American Right, try reading it. Englishmen once had a reputation as "the freest subjects under Heaven", as they had the right "to be guarded and defended from all Violence and Force, by their own Arms, kept in their own hands, and used at their own charge under their Prince". __________________ MOLON LABE! 2% Unobtainium, 98% Hypetanium. The Arms Room: An Online Museum.