Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanGAR
I didn't realize that assault rifles were available when the second amendment was written.
Just as an fyi, I see no problem with law abiding citizens owning automatic weapons if they want to play with them at the range. I admit they'd be a little much for hunting though.
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Military grade "assault weapons" were available during the time when the second amendment was written. Indeed, the same Short Land Service Musket that was used by the British was used by our soldiers as well. Indeed our soldiers used them to "assault" the British and run them out of our country and back up to Canada or Britain.
The Second Amendment exists to allow citizens to protect themselves from their government. It's a great provision because it does not allow the government to gain imperium over the lives of citizens (like socialized medicine or punitive taxation) with the expectation that we have the ability to push back with the most extreme means. The second amendment exists so that we do not turn into a bunch of sheep (like Europe and Canada) who are made serfs and knaves with the insecure and pathetic promise of "free" healthcare and an assurance that their government will not throw them into concentration camps.
Americans chafe at the notion of being owned by their government and the second amendment is the explicit declaration that we will never be.
ATL