"Citizen Soldier" card or bookmark If the elected representatives of the people betray their constituents, the only resource left is self-defense, the most important right in every positive form of government. Federalist Paper Number 28, paragraph 6 Americans, unlike the people of almost every other nation, have the advantage of being armed. . . [this is part of the] barrier against federal ambition.  Despite the military establishments in several kingdoms of Europe, . . . the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.  And it is not certain that with this aid alone they would be able to shake off their yokes.  But if the people possessed the additional advantages of local governments . . . [that] appoint officers from the militia, it may be said, with the greatest assurance, that the throne of every tyranny in Europe would be speedily overturned in spite of the legions that surround it. Federalist Paper Number 46, Paragraph 9