What is an assault weapon anyway? Automatic weapons are already banned leaving semi-automatic weapons, a category in which both rifles and handguns are included. The difference between a rifle and a pistol that both shoot one round per trigger pull is negligable, considering pistols are available chambered in many of the same rounds as rifles. All guns could be classified as assault weapons. The right to arms is fundamental to the American constitution. The effect of the second amendment on the likelihood of government tyranny is one of the things that makes the USA superior to other nations. The weaponry citizens are allowed to possess is already less powerful than the weapons used by the government. Continuing to restrict firearms would lead to the deterioration of the US citizenry as a discouraging force against government malfeasance, which is when it would start to become more prevalent and overt.
The law-abiding citizen should be entitled to carry the means of equal force against that which a criminal attacker is likely to possess. Emergency response time is not adequate to protect individuals in a threatening situation where immediate action is required. Data shows that more lives are saved by defensive firearm use than are taken in destructive acts of violence involving a firearm. A criminal with a legal or illegally acquired firearm will have more time to continue a mass shooting if emergency services and police are the only option, whereas the rampage could more quickly come to an end with individuals in lawful possession of firearms present.
I would argue that as the constitution entitles all citizens the right to bear arms, restrictions are on dubious grounds. The second amendment was not made for muskets. It was not made to be static in time. The second amendment was made to recognize the right of the citizen to a fair fight against a rogue government or criminals. This requires that the citizen has access to the same level of force likely to be used against them in these situations. A mandatory buyback of "assault weapons" would be a performance of disrespect to the core values of the nation, trampling all over the rights that American people have come to take for granted. It would be a glaring indicator that the time the writers of the amendment envisioned has come to pass, and would push Americans who love their nation to a point where they would have to consider invoking the rights granted.
@KeenSwan9mos9MO
Interesting perspective, however, there are a few points to consider. Firstly, the term "assault weapons" generally refers to semi-automatic firearms designed for rapid fire and combat use. They are often characterized by certain features such as detachable magazines, pistol grips, and more. The distinction between a semi-automatic handgun and a semi-automatic rifle is not negligible when considering capacity for harm. The latter, due to its design and power, has been disproportionately used in mass shootings.
Secondly, while the Second Amendment does provide the right to bear arms… Read more
