There are several reasons anyone should be able to own an "assault rifle" but in most cases they choose semi auto weapons. Several times throughout history shortly after being disarmed people have been rounded up and massacred. If you would like specific examples I would gladly entertain. Start with Germany prior ww2 since that is where many of our gun laws we already allowed came from.

First - the recent shooting in California was done with a pistol. Second - the cops came out earlier to evaluate his mental facilities and did NOTHING! Thrid - the Second Amendment is there for self-defense, resistance to oppression, and the civic duty to act in concert in defense of the state, none of which can be done with a muzzle-loader effectively. I don't think outlawing assault rifles will make them unavailable to the public. As far as you fearing for you son's safety at school, how about we hold these government mandated education camps actually responsible for PROTECTING and EDUCATION our children while there are there?

It is much simpler than that...guns kill people effectively. It is why we invented them. We needed a faster more effective way to kill other humans as we conquered and expanded territory. Until we can move beyond the fear everyone is out to get us I am afraid that guns are never going away in the US like most of the world. I understand in the US that is not going to happen anytime soon but the Constitution is not a locked document. An amendment is a change to a document...so the 2nd can be changed or even removed but people have to want to.

As an outsider living in the US it is amazing how a country perceived to be the most powerful in the world is ruled by fear and it's citizens buy into it. Ironic to say the least.

Guns the great equalizer. Turns every David into a Goliath
(sorry for the shitty biblical reference but seems appropriate)

I'd like to respond to your statement in two ways: first, as a reasonable human being then as a right wing gun nut.

1. I couldn't agree more. There's no valid excuse for anyone other than an active duty soldier or a law enforcement professional to own or use a combat grade assault weapon. Civilians shouldn't be permitted by law to own one and violators should be stiffly fined and harshly punished.

2. Keep your filthy libtard hands off my guns! My Constitutional RIGHT to own a gun includes ALL guns including assault weapons! The 2nd Amendment was written by GOD himself and will NOT be challenged by you gun control pussies! LONG LIVE THE NRA!!

You are either reasonable or ridiculous depending on which response most closely aligns with your own.

I'm from Montana. People around here have guns, but they keep them to themselves. Mostly hunters and ranchers have them and they use them as tools like a shovel or a rake back East.