"The police of a state should never be stronger or better armed than the citizenry. An armed citizenry, willing to fight, is the foundation of civil freedom."
–Robert A. Heinlein, in Beyond This Horizon
All I would add is that the best way to maintain civil freedom is to permit licensed, open carry of firearms.
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 
Nope, no licenses. Too much databasable personal info for the Progressives to abuse. For one.
Ideally, you’re right, of course. But licenses are the only realistic way for the present. Later, when the entire populace is carrying, they could be dispensed with.
As for those who prefer not to be armed, the novel offers “peace brassards” to wear, which are supposed to guarantee safety under most conditions–but those who wear them are considered second-class citizens.
Yep. Heinlein also said something to the effect that carrying arms openly facilitates politeness like nothing else.
The old man was frequently right.
Exactly. His quote is: “An armed society is a polite society.” Elaborately polite, in fact.
The Old South (during slavery) was that way. You could get shot just for looking cross eyed at a touchy man, let alone actually insulting him.