Where This Slogan Actually Came From...

Published on May 5, 2022
Duration: 6:16

This video explores the historical origins of the slogan 'When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.' It traces the sentiment back to 18th-century Italian intellectual Cesare Beccaria and his influential work 'On Crimes and Punishments.' The speaker, Mark Smith, a constitutional attorney, argues that Beccaria's writings heavily influenced the American Founding Fathers, including John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, in their drafting of the Second Amendment. The core argument is that laws disarming law-abiding citizens are ineffective against criminals and ultimately disarm the innocent, making them more vulnerable.

Quick Summary

The slogan 'When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns' originates from 18th-century Italian intellectual Cesare Beccaria's work 'On Crimes and Punishments.' He argued that firearm bans disarm law-abiding citizens, making them vulnerable to criminals, and that such laws are ineffective against those who disregard all legal statutes.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: The Slogan's Origin
  2. 00:08Host Introduction: Mark Smith
  3. 00:23The Famous Saying
  4. 00:40Cesare Beccaria: The Intellectual
  5. 01:03Arguments Against Gun Bans
  6. 01:47Quoting Beccaria: 'On Crimes and Punishments'
  7. 02:50Beccaria's Quote on Arms and Laws
  8. 04:22Beccaria's Argument Explained
  9. 04:56Influence on Blackstone and Founders
  10. 05:27Conclusion: Historical Foundation

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the slogan 'When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns' originate?

The slogan's sentiment originates from the 18th-century Italian intellectual Cesare Beccaria. His work 'On Crimes and Punishments' articulated the idea that laws disarming law-abiding citizens are ineffective against criminals and make the innocent more vulnerable.

How did Cesare Beccaria influence the U.S. Founding Fathers?

Cesare Beccaria's writings, particularly 'On Crimes and Punishments,' were widely read and respected by American Founding Fathers like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. His philosophical arguments on law, crime, and individual liberty informed their drafting of the Constitution and the Second Amendment.

What was Cesare Beccaria's argument against banning firearms?

Beccaria argued that laws forbidding the carrying of arms primarily disarm those who are law-abiding, not those who intend to commit crimes. He believed such laws make innocent people more susceptible to attack by criminals and ultimately undermine personal liberty.

Is the slogan 'When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns' a modern invention?

No, the slogan is not a modern invention. Its core idea can be traced back to the 18th century and the writings of Cesare Beccaria, an influential philosopher whose work predates the U.S. Constitution and the Second Amendment.

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