What are your opinions on automatic rifles being used for other things besides hunting?

Firstly,

As stated here, you're advocating the idea of non-originalism, the idea that as technology and society advances, the founding father's constitution becomes less applicable to today, and therefore judges must determine that modern weapons for example were not guarant..-STOP

" The opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves, in their, own sphere of action, but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, would make the Judiciary a despotic branch. " -Jefferson

Secondly,

in the context of "the founding fathers", we need to be specific as to WHO said WHAT, since they didn't agree on every issue such as federalism, for example. The founding fathers gained an EXTREME distrust in a standing army. They believed a militia was always necessary to secure the rights of the people. So by merely having an army goes against the founding fathers' caution of governmental power, and by further disarming the people:

"But when once a standing army is established in any country, the people lose their liberty. When, against a regular and disciplined army, [avg people] unskilful and unarmed, — what chance is there for preserving freedom? "

- Mason

" If circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their own rights and those of their fellow-citizens. " - Hamilton, who was a FEDERALIST, an advocate for a strong central government!!!!

Finally,

here are some more quotes that might give you an idea of what the founding fathers and others at the time intended:

" a little rebellion now and then is a good thing... Unsuccesful rebellions indeed generally establish the incroachments on the rights of the people..." - Jefferson

" The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Jefferson

" Wherever standing armies are kept up, and the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any colour or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction" - St. George Tucker

" I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. " - Madison

" Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined. " - Patrick Henry

In Summary, the founding father's intention was that the people should never be overpowered by government, that standing armies should not exist and they threaten the very idea of freedom from a tyrannical government. They believed the people should be part of a well-regulated voluntary militia, ready to stand up against tyranny. This is exactly the case that happened in the American Revolution, a contest between an unregulated militia and a standing British Army, their overlord. Case law was B.S. at least to Jefferson if not more F.F.'s, and the people should never be outgunned, regardless of the warfare. Don't ask me how to implement a militia today, that's above my pay-grade to fix the fuck-ups of our ancestors.

Finally, as I am obligated to note this:

I am in the military, and I took an oath to uphold the Constitution within the military. Since I have strong beliefs, the best thing I can do to not violate my Oath of Office, the Constitution, or the UCMJ is to participate in the military to "do things correctly." I do not encourage any form of rebellion, I do not speak on any official capacity, and I will never participate in such acts. I am simply trying to educate you on this perspective, so we can all understand each other better.

/r/progun Thread