…ASK YOURSELF, Am I willing to commit as these men did, everything to defend our liberty, freedom and democracy with MY armed defense and with my life…
LAST LINE OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
We, Therefore, the Representatives of the UNITED States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.–And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
WHY We have the 2nd Amendment, needed always to insure foreign or domestic foes cannot destroy our freedom…
[New Hampshire] Josiah Bartlett Wm. Whipple Matthew Thornton [Massachusetts Bay] Saml. Adams John Adams Robt. Treat Paine Elbridge Gerry [Rhode Island] Step. Hopkins William Ellery John Hancock [Connecticut] Roger Sherman Sam’el Huntington Wm. Williams Oliver Wolcott [New York] Wm. Floyd Phil. Livingston Frans. Lewis Lewis Morris [New Jersey] Richd. Stockton Jno. Witherspoon Fras. Hopkinson John Hart Abra. Clark [Pennsylvania] Robt. Morris Benjamin Rush Benja. Franklin John Morton Geo. Clymer Jas. Smith Geo. Taylor James Wilson Geo. Ross [Delaware] Caesar Rodney Geo. Read Tho. M’Kean [Maryland] Samuel Chase Wm. Paca Thos. Stone Charles Carroll of Carrollton [Virginia] George Wythe Richard Henry Lee Th. Jefferson Benja. Harrison Ths. Nelson, Jr. Francis Lightfoot Lee Carter Braxton [North Carolina] Wm. Hooper Joseph Hewes John Penn [South Carolina] Edward Rutledge Thos. Heyward, Junr. Thomas Lynch, Junr. Arthur Middleton [Georgia] Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall Geo. Walton
