Pentony Loc: Earth Traveller

What is the necessitate of civilians owning machine guns and semi-automatic guns? What is the necessitate of civilians owning high capacity ammo clips? Those items are designed to outright kill masses of human beings quickly as in war.

Those items are designed for use by military personnel and maybe some civilian police SWAT teams. A real hunter would not use them for hunting game.

As for the Second Amendment, recall that it was written when weapons were mostly single shot muskets and swords. The funding fathers could not foresee the types of weapons we have today but they were smart enough to make the Constitution flexible to fit the needs of future generations by including a provision for adding Amendments to the Constitution.

If those types of weapons and clips were banned, one could still "bear arms" by purchasing hand guns which are still superior to muskets. One could argue that banning them would mean that like during Prohibition (illegal alcohol), the bad guys would still illegally obtained banned items and the good guys would be out gunned. That's why there are heavily armed civilian police SWAT teams and the National Guard.

The point is that banning those high powered rapid firing high capacity clips human killing machines would not infringe on the Second Amendment because as previously stated, one could still "bear arms" by purchasing hand guns.

Banning them is not the "all solution" to the problems of killing civilians in our society. Could it be one step as a part of the solutions? There are several other "steps" which are needed to be addressed regarding civilian killings.

The only reason to kill a civilian in our society is in self defense. A hand gun would do that very effectively.

Curtis_Lowe Loc: Georgia

And just how does banning the sale of these guns to law abiding citizens stop the carnage?

mikejduk Loc: Accrington United Kingdom

I agree with you 100%. I just can't see the need for the assault type weapons in the hands of ordinary householders. Still, this is America we are talking about and if anything has to be OTT you can guarantee it will be there.

Robert Graybeal Loc: Myrtle Beach

the constitution was written when the civilians and the government had muskets. equal arms.

times change

we still have a right and a duty to defend against tyrany

wake up and grow a brain that works!

TimS Loc: GA

If Obama bans assault weapons then I'm going out and buying a Canon 7D. You see, I could say that I want an AR15 before they become illegal but I don't have much of a use for one nor do I really want one. So ill just take the money I would've spent on one and buy a 7D. With the money leftover, maybe ill buy a couple 30 rd magazines just to have if I get do decide to get one later when they become available.

TimS Loc: GA

You do realize that someone can carry several 10 rd magazines on their person and have the same firepower as a single 30 rd magazine? It just takes another second or so to change the magazine.

Restricting the bullet capacity to curb gun violence makes as much sense as restricting gas tank capacity to curb drunk driving.

ted45 Loc: Delaware

Petony;

You are making the assumption that all gun owners are hunters. It is already illegal to hunt with automatic weapons. In my state, Pa, it is illegal to hunt with a magazine capacity that exceeds three rounds. In many counties it is illegal to hunt with a long gun: you are restricted to shot guns only.

You cannot purchase a machine gun unless you are first investigated by the ATF and pay an exorbitant fee for the license. In my state, PA, you cannot buy a working machine gun – period. I wish I could buy one because shooting a full auto gun is fun and that is what the owners get to do with them. You can go to a state like Louisiana and buy a Browning automatic rifle with the proper license but at approximately $1 a round you are not going to be shooting it a whole lot unless you are rich.

Some people collect guns for their historical value and the beauty of workmanship. Most collectibles are never fired because it could possibly lessen their value.

Name one case where a machine gun was used in the commission of a crime. Name one case where a high capacity magazine was used in the commission of a crime that was legally owned by the person doing the shooting. I will save you some research; it hasn’t happened.

Of course, you will ignor this post because you are a liberal and you know better.

THISTLE Loc: Reidsville NC

Once the second amendment is dismantled what makes you think that the other amendments will not follow it down the slippery slope?
"When a people are willing to sacrifice their liberty for security they deserve neither"*

*John Adams

Anthony Charles Loc: Santa Maria

Why are you so RUDE to everyone who disagrees with you????

Dave in Utah Loc: Southern Utah

The reason for all the assault weapons and high capacity magazines is so that we may be as equally equipped as the bad guys. You seem to want us to defend ourselves by waving a sheet of paper at them that says "Hey, what you are doing is illegal!" One of the laws of physics is , "for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction" I believe this applies to crime as well as to the physical realm. God willing it I will never have to respond to such a situation.
This has always made sense to me "it is better to have protection and not need it than to need it and not have it" Seat belts, motorcycle helmets and such are just common sense and should not need a written law, so is the right to defend myself and I intend to do so. I am not going about HUNTING for an occasion, but will respond if necessary.
In Christian love, Dave

photopop44 Loc: Roun Drock, Texas

I've read so much of this emotion charged "discussion" about guns that I'm suprised that I have read another but the typo in the third paragraph made it worth while.

wilpharm Loc: Oklahoma

why dont you gun haters understand that this issue has nothing to do with NEED....it is about rights...who cares what is "needed" to kill a deer....do you want Obama to tell you what you can or cannot take hunting...DO you NEED a car that goes 130 or 40 pound line to catch a bass...dammit its about rights...if you dont want a 223 Assault weapon then dont buy one...I dont have one but I damn well have the right to purchase one if I want & why cant you understand that these are not "machine guns" geez..do you really want to have to get a background check for the buyer if you sell your neighbor or friend a gun...or give one to your son???? Get Friggin Real!!!!!! & to you BRITS..MIND your own damn business...you have enough problems worrying about who good old Charlie or Harry is boffing nowadys...

Gnslngr

Great. So you wouldn't mind if they were banned, right? After all, you can get the same effect by changing out your magazine in a "second or so". :thumbup:

SusanLauer Loc: Summerville, SC

Oliver North- North was at the center of national attention during the Iran–Contra affair, a political scandal of the late 1980s. North was a National Security Council staff member involved in the clandestine sale of weapons to Iran, which served to encourage the release of U.S. hostages from Lebanon. North formulated the second part of the plan: diverting proceeds from the arms sales to support the Contra rebel groups in Nicaragua (funding to the Contras had been prohibited under the Boland Amendment amidst widespread public opposition in the U.S. and controversies surrounding human rights abuses by the Contras). He is currently the host of War Stories with Oliver North on Fox News Channel.
Are we supposed to listen to the philosophy of anyone with his history? SL

Anthony Charles Loc: Santa Maria

Hers a thought,the 2nd amendment says nothing about the right to own ammunition,so why not ban ammunition???one still has the right to bear arms,no amendment violation there.If that is not an option,why doesn't the government put a federal tax on each round of ammunition say $5 a round for civilian use ,sure go a long way to help the national debt