Gun Quotes

by
posted on June 25, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
wiley-clapp.jpg (3)

In researching several topics, I keep coming up with quotes from several handgunners of note. Some of them are well known, others may be the sort that gets lost in the pages of history. There is a great deal of wisdom in this kind of stuff, and I thought that readers would be interested in seeing what the old-timers were thinking about and also how they expressed themselves. Some of the language seems stilted and awkward, but I think you’ll agree that they can really make a point that is as true today as it was a century back. How about this one?

“No possible rapidity of fire can atone for habitual carelessness of aim with the first shot.”

If that doesn’t make the point, I don’t know what will. Apparently spray-‘n-pray was a problem in the 1880s when Theodore Roosevelt penned those words. Feel free to let me know what great gun quotes you like.

Latest

John Commerford
John Commerford

Political Report | America at 250: Celebrate Our History

It isn’t news to the patriotic members of the National Rifle Association that July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States of America.

Benelli Updates Its M2 Field Shotgun

Over the years, Benelli shotguns have gotten subtle updates that have made their reliability and usability even better. New for 2026, Benelli’s M2 Field models are getting added features for better comfort and control.

It’s OK to Have Fun

A gun is a serious tool, but it can also be an object of joy.

Gun of the Week: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary

While the company's initial Model 2020 Waypoint design was intended to be more of a precision platform, Springfield has since come out with several field-ready variants of the Model 2020, including the Boundary.

Standing Guard | The NRA and Freedom’s 250th

A quarter of a millennium ago this July 4, John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence.

The Armed Citizen® June 19, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.