I must wade into this one finally. This point isn't made often enough. The right to bear arms has absolutely nothing to do with hunting, sport, or keeping the muggers at bay. The framers of our Consititution understood that everything, even the great ideas they were working on, can be corrupted. It makes no difference if they forsaw the automatic weapons we have today or Star Trek phasers. Nor do they care if we are using pea shooters. The right to bear ARMS, note not guns, is a basic right. Here is the exact wording of the Second Ammendment:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
The fathers of our country understood that the final authority of government is the people. And at times there might be the possiblity that the government is working against the people. If that should happen and the people believe the only recourse is to overthrow the government then they have the right to do so. Therefore the right to bear arms is the ultimate balance of power of the people against the government.
I believe that any gun control law, any registration, any infringement on my right to bear arms is a threat to my freedom.
Saying that, I also believe that if a weapon of violence is used in a crime the criminal should be put away for a *very* long time.