This article is from the talk.politics.guns Official Pro-Gun FAQ, by Ken Barnes (kebarnes@cc.memphis.edu) with numerous contributions by others.
"The peaceable part of mankind will be continually overrun by the
vile and abandoned while they neglect the means of self-defense.
The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on
the other hand, arms like laws discourage and keep the invader and
the plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world, as well as
property. The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same
balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms,
for all would be alike; but since some_will_not," others_dare_not"
lay them aside... Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the
world deprived of the use of them;... the weak will become a prey
to the strong."
-=(Thomas Paine, "Thoughts on Defensive War," 1775)=-
 
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