Presidents' Day: 7 myths about George Washington
Second Amendment quotes
From time to time on social media, viral posts will put pro-gun quotes into the mouth of George Washington that, according to historians, the general never actually said.
According to Washington Crossing Historic Park, these include: “When government takes away citizens’ right to bear arms it becomes citizens’ duty to take away government’s right to govern,” and “When a nation mistrusts its citizens with guns it is it sending a clear message. It no longer trusts its citizens because such a government has evil plans,” and “Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty, teeth and keystone under independence.”
"[T]here are quite a few Washington quotes about the Second Amendment or about firearms that are made up, or that have parts of the quote removed,” said Adrienne Harrison, a former assistant professor of American history at the United States Military Academy, as quoted by WCHP.
“Washington didn’t say anything on the record about the Second Amendment. In fact, he was one of the loudest voices calling for the Constitutional Convention when Shay’s Rebellion broke out. He wanted a strong central government that would prevent that kind of thing.”
