You don't need a auto/sub-auto machine gun to protect your family. No one said to take away your right own weapons, but it's stupid that civilians are aloud to arm themselves with military grade weapons.
You've really never spent time with these weapons, have you?
I'll agree that there are a great number of people with firearms who I do not trust to own them.
That said... there are people alive who, in my analysis, represent only a detriment to those around them by being alive. If we want to start taking away firearms based on necessity - I don't see why we should allow people to have life when they are not using it responsibly... and especially if they can't demonstrate a need for such a thing.
If you can't protect yourself, or your family with a pistol/bolt action, then you shouldn't even be using a weapon.
You see... the problem is that firearm violence is largely sourced at handguns. Shotguns kill as many people as rifles in this nation (and the type of rifle isn't often specified - it's more than likely a bolt action hunting rifle associated with a hunting accident).
Now, I do want 'my' 6.8mm ACR with ACOG sights and 6+ 30 round magazines. I'd prefer it have the Navy trigger group as it was designed - but I'll settle for the semi-auto version (full auto, while mostly for creating a lot of noise and pissing away ammo, does have a few tactical uses).
I'm also fairly well trained with such a weapon and carried one with me during my deployment overseas (well, a similar class of weapon). It's something I'm comfortable with.
Though, bluntly - it's not just about "protecting my home." It's about protecting my community from others. At the end of the day - the people I have are those around me. Governments wax and wane, prosper and crumble... but the needs of people to work together for mutual survival... that doesn't change. Towns and cities have paid taxes to dozens of different governments in their time... businesses have survived longer than some political empires.
I will defend what works from that which does not work but wishes to extort a reward.
That is what the 2nd amendment exists for.
These fools who go on shooting rampages will not be allowed to jeopardize this inherent right to self-preservation. I recognize that no effort can prevent such individuals from being born into this world and making such decisions... and accept that there is risk in this life. I do not look to governments and rules to solve the problems created by those who defy both.
And I certainly reject the notion that more laws will help to prevent the breaking of other rules.
I'd rather my children grow up hearing about a school shooting here or there than for them to grow up in a world where they have to have a license to urinate in a public bathroom. Because that's where this nonsense is going. I draw the line here - with secession standing in reserve.
