Is it our constitutional right to own machine guns?

Question

The parents of that kid who fired off an AK-47 at his school in Missouri said it was their right to own it.

Answer 1

the ban on assault weapons was lifted, if I'm not mistaken. However in the case of those parents, rights should imply responsibility.

Answer 2

An AK-47 is not a "machine gun" is is infact an "Assualt Rifle" and yes it is legal to own them as long as the follow a few guidelines, such as they can only be semi-automatic; Pull the trigger for each bullet, but the gun will automatically clear the breach and load a new bullet into the chamber ready to be fired again, how ever you still need to release and pull the trigger agian to fire, You can't have muzzle flash suppresors and a bayonett together, however one or the other alone is fine. A gun is a tool, if used improperly it can kill, just like anything else can, Cars, knifes, rocks, hammers. I am Pro-Gun but I believe the system which hands out guns to anyone who wants one needs to be modified, I think like flying a plane, one must seek training and a proper license in order to operate a plane, so should be it for a gun.

Answer 3

An AK-47 isn't a machine gun.

There are lots of machine guns around and fully functional Gatling (motorized) guns.
The biggest corporate arsenals are in Hollywood. Most large industrial plants and power plants have them. The Kennedy family has them as do the Rockefeller family, Bush family and many other with or without permits.

As to whether we have a constitutional right to own a machine gun? Yes we do, for the following reasons, drawn from the correspondence between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson concerning what became the Second Amendment.
The intention of the "Right to keep and bear arms" was intended for two main purposes, to protect the country from occupation by adversaries from without, and to protect the country from its own government should it become despotic. At that time, the word "militia" meant all able male citizens between the age of 16 and 60. A regulated militia would be drawn from that body, who were expected to be able to use weapons.
The arguments we hear all the time regarding sporting arms or hunting were not a part of the discussion. The habit of despots disarming the public was. Then as now the first step towards subjecting a population was to disarm as much of it as possible.

The argument that keeping and carrying weapons is a privilege (as the say driving is) is without foundation due to the word "right" in the second amendment.

Answer 4

Honey, you need to study a little.
An AK-47 is NOT a machine gun. It's NOT even an automatic firearm.
It is a semi-auto. The same style that kids have been hunting rabbits with since 1950.
You may have been fooled by some Nazi Gun Grabbers. (They don't tell the truth about firearms.)
Don't be gullible, like liberals. Always Check Out information.
You probably mean well, but don't let people use you.

Answer 5

The 2nd amendment of the US constitution was written to insure that American citizens would have access to modern military weapons. The lack of those weapons had been a real problem in running the British off. They wanted to insure that if government became to restrictive that the citizens could resist it with force of arms. So yes the constitution allows it. Do we still need it. I don't know but if we don't they should have a national referendum to repeal the amendment not have judges and legislators change it without the consent of the people

Answer 6

The Constitution says we have a right to bear arms. It does not state that we can't limit which arms we can bear. So the Constitution does not specifically say we cannot ban machine guns or AK-47s (for example) or to turn it around, that it is specifically our right to own them. For example, automatic weapons are banned.

I'm not supporting either stance, that's just a simple fact.

Answer 7

It is against the law to own and automatic weapon without a federal firearms license. The ownership of and AK-47 is not against the law because the ones that are sold in the US are not fully automatic. They have been modified to be semi Automatic.

Answer 8

If it is, I don't think it should be. What the heck use is a machine gun? Can you hunt Deer?? NO Its for showing off and killing people. So the question is, Is it our right to own guns used to kill people or to hunt with? I'm sicken by the number of people killed just in recent days. In my city the last few months almost a dozen shootings have killed innocent people. The shooters didn't have these guns because it was their right. They had them because they were going to kill if needed.

Answer 9

Yes, but you NEED a federal permit. AK-47 is not a machine gun, it is a semi-automatic weapon sold to the public..

Wrong 'Bobby B'....... It isn't illegal, you can buy AK's at gun shows and on-line.

Answer 10

No. Our Fathers of Confederation did not intend for people to act as "loose cannons" and handle all of their personal squabbles by getting a hold of the biggest guns available to them and recklessly using the guns to act out their anger. Parents have a responsibility to keep guns out of the hands of immature children and are just as responsible as the child who has used their gun in an attempt to kill someone. Guns are not meant to be used as tools to resolve conflicts with family members, neighbors, school mates or school teachers, etc. However some adults are just as immature and as unintouch with reality as their children. They use denial, projection, and repression to blame others for making them angry and going into a rage. The only response they can imagine is one of force and violence to eliminate their perceived cause of their pain. They respond without thinking about consequences of their actions and have not learned the lessons of forgiveness or empathy. Children learn what they live which means that behaviors are taught by example and attitudes are caught not taught. We keep repeating these lessons until we learn from them! To use the phrase, "It's our Constitutional right to possess and use whatever gun we want to protect ourselves.", is a significant indication of the real problem you are dealing with. Trying to converse rationally with them will not work.

Answer 11

No we have the right to bear arms. Assault rifles (such as the AK) is not legal at all. It has power to pierce metal and other such things that handguns cant. Ever see that 52 Minutes movie? (im not sure how long it was, it was @ that bank where they had AKs and cops didnt have ****). Yah, its amazing no1 died from that.