To all my friends who are "gun advocates" and incessantly post #NRA talking points about the Second Amendment; please understand you are not helping your cause.
Certainly, all constitutional law and its intent is open to debate, but the only thing the #2ndA clearly gives US citizens is the right to a "gun." If you are concerned whether or not you can own a gun, the good news is the matter is firmly resolved and you should have comfort knowing - yes you can own a gun. However, that is the only right you have been granted courtesy the 2nda. The 2nda does not give you the right to a preferred process by which you can obtain a firearm or your preferred make/model; nor a particular rate of fire, or even the conditions under which you may discharge a gun. None of these conditions are a "right." You may feel very strongly about these things, but you do not and never will have a constitutional right to them.
The NRA has convinced you that you do have a right to these conditions unfortunately, and so, once the majority of the country begins to make common sense decisions regarding the current gun laws, they will probably create them in a manner that is more restrictive than you would prefer.
So my suggestion to my friends is to spend some time thinking about what gun ownership means to you. What is important about owning your gun? What are the reasons for its use? If you are thinking " So I can take on the government if they ever attack me" you should know that it is definitely against the law to do so and no constitution of the people will allow for the violent overthrow of it's own laws. So, maybe keep that reasoning for the poker game chatter and not in the debate over public safety with regards to gun ownership. In fact, that is the nature of the debate you should be considering since your fellow citizens have made it clear they are concerned for their families safety in light of all the technological advances in weaponry. If you choose to adopt a shortsighted view which does not consider your rights accurately, you will lose badly when the debate finally hits the floor of congress.
You do not have to believe me, but as a friend, I recommend you start considering your rights more seriously.