Ed Pirie, your argument falls apart as soon as you assume gun ownership is for sporting purposes only. The anti gunners planted that theme. The Second Amendment does not say the right to possess arms suitable for sporting purposes. The Second Amendment is intended to counter balance a government that thinks it would like to get too oppressive. The Second Amendment secures our liberty by giving us the means to successfully resist if required. Why should the government be trusted with machineguns if the people (from whom the right to govern comes) aren't to be trusted with the same. I would love to shake down the body guards covering Schummer, Clinton, Kennedy and Rosie O'Donnell and see just what firepower they feel entitled to for protection.
