Not a huge fan of fmr MN Gov Jesse Ventura, but he is 100% right in this speech from 2008 at the Rally for the Republic.
As for those questioning the intent of the Founders may I suggest not listening to some professor or “historian” who wrote a book based off of someone else’s book or research about the Founders! Know the Founders intentions from their own words/writings!
George Washington:
“Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence. The church, the plow, the prairie wagon, and citizen’s firearms are indelibly related. From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and the pistol are equally indispensable. Every corner of this land knows firearms, and more than 99 99/100 percent of them by their silence indicate they are in safe and sane hands. The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference; they deserve a place with all that’s good. When firearms, go all goes; we need them every hour.”
Thomas Jefferson:
“The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves, … or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of the press.”
“No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms.”
Samuel Adams:
“And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the Press, or the rights of Conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms”
George Mason:
“I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.”
“That the People have a right to keep and bear Arms; that a well regulated Militia, composed of the Body of the People, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe Defence of a free state.”
Richard Henry Lee:
“A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves“
Zachariah Johnson:
“The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them.”