Remember when you were in the military? Among many other things ,they issued you an M1 and a bayonet, also a whole slew of magazines with 30 caliber rounds. Heavens, do they still issue bayonets? I know they don't issue M1's. I guess killing has become more efficient. We now have "weapons of mass- destruction". Its no longer a one on one situation. The more we can kill with just one 'weapon' the better. That means automatic weapons with as many bullets as you can carry. Well, if your in a war situation, I guess that makes some sense( not addressing the sense-lessness of war). The Second Amendment also allows the people "to bear arms". When was that Amendment passed? Oh, 1791. Hell those were wild times. The American Revolution was just over, the Constituion was just 'approved', and maybe there were even indians and wild animals all over the place. But, I betcha they didn't have assault weapons. At that time, it was also necessary that a State have a "well regulated Militia" to prevent enchroachment into the State. For sure, everyone was entitled to protect his family and his home. And, face it, everyone is still entitled to self-protection, so having a weapon for that purpose is as Constitutional as you can get. But, a "well regulated Militia" to the security of the State? Thats the States business! And for self-defense, hunting, or collecting, do we need "weapons of mass destruction"? Some will say ,"you exaggerate". OK,lets just say automatic weapons with many magazines for killing dozens of individuals who are attacking your family or home? As unlikely as that scenario is, its not unlikely that some 'crazy' will do just that in a crowded auditorium or a school building. Isn't that whats happening? Well, those victims were someone's family. Your family is your family whether your at home or going about your business. They need protection just as you and your home need protection. So, lets control the availability and misuse of these automatic weapons. We don't need them for self-defense at home and we don't need them for hunting and we don't have to collect them. If you do collect them, then just remove the firing pins on those suckers. I guess we no longer issue bayonets but we do issue automatic weapons because unfortunately they have become necessary in war. Production and manufacture of weapons for war is still necessary. But that is unrelated to running a business designed to make the availability of these weapons to just anyone. Sell to the government, or is there a 'profit' issue lurking in the background? We need to keep the Second Amendment but lets not use it to justify the taking of innocent lives. People govern themselves so how can people allow the taking of innocent lives. Some control is imperative.