"The militia is the natural defense of a free country against sudden
foreign invasions, domestic insurrections, and domestic usurpation
of power by rulers. The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms
has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of the
republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the
usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally ...
enable the people to resist and triumph over them."
-- Joseph Story, Supreme Court Justice, Commentaries on
the Constitution of the United States, p. 3:746-7, 1833