Ben Franklin Quote. We are the lamb.

[Bonhomme Richard]

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
B. Franklin

[NMDemDist2]

1. LOL ol' Ben sure had a way with words. n/t

[cruadin]

2. That's why we have the 2nd Amendment.

[tabasco]

3. No, that's why we have a system of government ...

designed to prevent a "dictatorship by the majority." I don't think Franklin's statement had anything to do with guns.

[cruadin]

4. We obviously read this quote differently. Franklin says,...

"Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
I see no other way to read that but to mean that the fact that the lamb is "well-armed" is what gives that individual the ability to offset the tyranny of the majority.

I agree that our government (at least by its conception) is designed as system of offsetting powers to prevent such a "dictatorship by the majority" but, like most things, it is less perfect in practice than in theory.

You and I may agree or disagree on the right of private gun ownership, but I think the fact that Franklin mentions a "well-armed lamb" rather than a system of governmental checks and balances, indicates which of those HE considered more fundamental to the issue of individual liberty.

[SmokingJacket]

5. The lamb is a metaphor, so perhaps "well-armed" is too. nt

[Bonhomme Richard]

7. I agree.............

I believe armed, in todays terms, would refer to using all the weapons at your disposal and that would include the law, demonstrations, etc..
B. Franklin was not one to run off in extreme directions such as Adams. His preffered method of confrontation was working through the system. It was only when there were no options left, and the situation moved beyond talking, did he support armed resistance.

[jdj]

6. whoa, that scared me.

with all our guns, the Americans should be the freest motherf*ckers around then.

How on earth did the patriot act ever get passed.

[tabasco]

8. We don't necessarily disagree on gun ownership ...

just on what Franklin was talking about. The Founders were very careful to write the Constitution to prevent unchecked power by a majority. They feared that a temporary coalition would gain control with 51% of the votes and upset the entire system. They designed a system with checks and balances to protect the other 49%. That's what I think Ben Franklin was talking about.

I just ordered an XS sight for my Ruger rifle today. I'm not an anti-gun person but I do favor strong control of handguns.