I know that there are already restrictions.
Why aren't these considered part of our constitutional right?
How am I supposed to maintain a healthy democracy by having a revolution with a pea shooter when the authority has tanks and all sorts of weaponry?
This has been my main counterpoint when someone suggests that we need weapons to protect ourselves in the event of a rogue government/revolution.
Joe Citizen and his semi-automatic rifles and other such weaponry wouldn't stand a chance in hell if the government and those with authority turned "heel", to use a wrestling term.
The government has tanks, nuclear weapons, bombers, control of satellite communications, wire taps, intelligence gadgets out the ass, etc. So I always find it comical when people try to use that as their main argument to own assault rifles and other stronger weapons.
You can have yourself an arsenal and bunker like Reba McEntire & Michael Gross' character in 'Tremors and it wouldn't make a difference. If things did go to hell in a hand basket you might as well take one of those assault rifles and squeeze off a few rounds into your own head because you damn sure aren't resisting a full on government assault.
Full disclosure: I'm pro gun. My father owned guns, my grandparents owned guns, and I have a handgun. But my personal belief has always been that I don't believe the average citizen should possess assault rifles. I get that there's always going to be the argument that
"only the bad guys will have assault rifles". So no need to post that response. It's just my personal view and I don't try to beat anyone over the head with it. To each their own.
Honestly you can make that retort about anything that's banned.
- We ban drugs. Now only the bad guys are making money on it.
- The enforcement of prohibition approx. a century ago. Now only bad guys are making money from it.
- Ban prostitution. Now only bad guys are making money from it.
My point is this. At some point decisions have to be made to better/advance our society regardless of the benefits that we perceive the bad guys will gain from it. I'm not saying that banning assault rifles will improve our society, but what I am saying is that we shouldn't allow the "bad guys won't follow the rules" crutch to prevent us from seeking out options to make things better.