From THE Red-Headed libertarian™ - @TRHLofficial
The Second Amendment was inspired by British plans to disarm every American. A part of you probably already knew this, but didn’t have the details. I’m about to chill you to the bones And give you every piece of evidence you need moving forward. So buckle up.
It began In 1768, “the freeholders” led by John Hancock and James Otis, met in Boston at Faneuil Hall and passed several resolutions. Including “that the Subjects being Protestants, may have Arms for their Defense.”
The royal governor rejected this proposal.
So this petition was circulated under the pseudonym “A.B.C.” (Who was more than likely Sam Adams)
It is reported that the Governor has said, that he has Three Things in Command from the Ministry, more grievous to the People, than any Thing hitherto made knonw. It is conjectured 1st, that the Inhabitants of this Province are to be disarmed. 2d. The Province to be governed Martial Law. And 3d, that a Number of Gentlemen who have exerted themselves in the cause of their country, are to be seized and sent to Great- Britain.
Unhappy America! When thy Enemies are rewarded with Honors and Riches; but thy Friends punished and ruined only for asserting thy Rights, and pleading for thy Freedom.
Shortly after Sam Adams’ petition was circulated, per the Boston Evening Post, (Oct. 3, 1768) British troops took over Faneuil Hall. And per The New York Journal, (Feb. 2, 1769) they ordered colonists turn in their guns.
That the inhabitants had been ordered to bring in their arms, which in general they had complied with; and that those in possession of any after the expiration of a notice given them, were to take the consequences.
Sam Adams would write about this time later that month saying, “it is said orders will soon be given to prevent the exportation of either navel or military stores, gun-powder, to any part of North-America.”
In another article he signed “E.A.”, Samual Adams went on to recall, “The right of having and using arms for self-preservation and defence.” Under the auxiliary subordinate rights of the English Bill of Rights
Shortly after, As you may recall in 1770 protesters “armed with sticks” we’re shot dead in the streets of Boston during the Boston Massacre.
It would be 4 years before the first physical attempt to disarm the Colonists would be tried and would fail, per the Massachusetts Spy, Sept. 8, 1774
It is said, it was proposed in the Divan last Wednesday, that the inhabitants of this Town should be disarmed, and that some of the newfangled Counsellors consented thereto, but happily a majority was against it.
Now this next part is the piece that really makes my skin crawl
In an affidavit, a man name Thomas Ditson testified that an Undercover British soldier pressured to him to buy a gun he had. When Ditson caved, a group of British soldiers appeared and he was tarred and feathered.
"I enquired of some Townsmen who had any guns to sell; one whom I did not know, replied he had a very fine Gun to sell.
"there was something not right. and left the Gun, and coming away he followed me and urg'd the Gun upon me."
Shortly after Sam Adams’ petition was circulated, per the Boston Evening Post, (Oct. 3, 1768) British troops took over Faneuil Hall. And per The New York Journal, (Feb. 2, 1769) they ordered colonists turn in their guns.
The Neck guard seized 13,425 musket cartridges with ball, (we suppose through the information of some dirty scoundrel, of which we have now many among us) and about 300 lb. of ball, which we were carrying into the country this was private property-The owner applied to the General first, but he absolutely refused to deliver it.
Per the Connecticut Courant, April 3, 1775, ammunition seizures followed.
That the inhabitants had been ordered to bring in their arms, which in general they had complied with; and that those in possession of any after the expiration of a notice given them, were to take the consequences.
This was followed shortly there after by the widely published American account of April 19, 1775, when a British officer shouted:
“Disperse you Rebels—Damn you, throw down your Arms and disperse.”
“No… I don’t think I will.” - Captain America (gif)
Then per the Connecticut current, a Gen. Gage decided to change the British tune. See, They just wanted to hold the guns for a little bit “for safe keeping” and then they promised to return them.
“And that, the arms aforesaid at a suitable time would be return’d to the owners.”
Bostonians proceeded to turn in 1778 muskets, 634 pistols, 973 bayonets and 38 blunderbusses. Because some Bostonians have always been this stupid.
In June of 1775 General Gage declared martial law and offered to pardon to all who would lay down their arms—except Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
Seriously How badass were these men?!
Per the (Connecticut Journal and New-Haven Post-Boy, June 21, 1775)
The Gazettes in Virginia and Maryland both reported more attempts to confiscate weapons through the summer of 1775.
Now, the Continental Congress adopted “The Declaration of Causes of Taking Up Arms”, July 6, 1775.
This was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and John Dickinson, and to be perfectly honest, we should probably know as much about it as we do the founding Documents. Wonder why we don’t.
It was stipulated that the said inhabitants having deposited their arms with their own magistrates, should have liberty to depart. They accordingly delivered up their arms, but in open violation of honor, in defiance of the obligations of treaties, which even savage nations esteem sacred, the governor ordered the arms deposited as aforesaid, that they might be preserved for the owners, to be seized by a body of soldiers.
In 1777, British General William Knox, under British Secretary of State, circulated a proposal entitled “What is it to be Done with America?” Along with the unlimited power to tax and an official Church, what else did he propose? You guessed it. YET AGAIN. Gun confiscation.
The Militia Laws should be repealed and none suffered to be re-enacted, & the Arms of all the People should be taken away, & every piece of Ordnance removed into the King's Stores, nor should any foundry or manufactory of Arms, Gunpowder, or Warlike Stores, be evre suffered in America, nor should any Gunpowder, Lead, Arms or Ordnance be imported into it without License; they will have but little need of such things for the future, as the King's Troops, Ships Forts will be sufficient to protect them from any danger…
This time it was too late. The colonists were at war. The damage had been done.
Entrapment.
“safekeeping.”
Banning imports.
Direct seizure.
Tar and feathering.
And finally shooting persons bearing whatever they say is “arms”.
As I watch Congress bloviate today over ways to disarm us, I’m reminded of all the ways the British tried to do the same thing 250 years ago. And how that congress fought to save us from the common enemy.
Now it seems many of them are the enemy. So what do we do? We learn from our past.
Sam Adams had always drawn the connection that those who wanted to disarm us, also fiercely wanted to stop us from petitioning our grievances.
I believe there’s more power in petitioning grievances than we realize. And this is why the founders enshrined it in the first amendment—Before the second amendment.
So I don’t know but I think that’s a good place to start.
