So while it is true that Thomas Jefferson said essentially the words that Alex loves to quote, the reality is that every time Alex repeats that saying, he's using it incorrectly. The context that Jefferson said those words in had to do with an opposition to Christian churches using the First Amendment freedom of religion to establish what would effectively be an official religion. of the United States.

The quote being referenced here is: quote, the laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature, they disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Now, it is true that that line appears in Thomas Jefferson's legal commonplace book, but it's a complete misstatement to say that the words are Jefferson's. They appear in his book because he was quoting a passage from the super influential legal reformer of the time, Caesar Beccaria. And it's from his 1764 publication, Essay on Crimes and Punishments.