Out of curiosity, what are the positive things that come out of the right to arms? I can't think of a reason for owning a gun that doesn't involve killing something.
Mostly hunting, which can be a pretty heavy food supplement for a fair number of families -- I'm part of one, even though I'm not venison eater, the availability of the meat has helped out parts of my family get through some tough times a bit healthier and better fed. It's definitely less expensive over a long period, especially if it involves grandfathered in weapons.
Lastly, I see there is a strong anti-gun sentiment among many of you. I understand, really! But I would like you to know that shooting for hunting or sport is much more common than you probably realize. You might even be surprised to see who you know has a gun! In fact, I know a lot of gun owners who don't even vote republican (though I'm not gonna lie, there's some right-wing nuts too and if you visit a gun show you'll definitely see a republican majority).
I'll bite on this, though, heh. I'm quite heavily in favor of much stronger gun regulation -- as a gun owner, as someone that has been through a concealed carry program (though yet to send in the paperwork, due to the processing fee), and as someone that stands to inherent probably a good dozen or so more firearms within the next decade.
Living as I have, in the area I'm in, and going through those programs... there are people out there, in substantial number, that have no goddamn right to have their hands on a weapon, and the only reason the death toll isn't higher than it
is, is sheer damned luck. As it is, irresponsible gun ownership claims too many lives, and we really do have the lackadaisical controls we have on who gets them to blame.
Got nothing against sport shooting, nothing against hunting, nothing, t'be upfront, against firearms for house defense. Completely support gun ownership for people who can demonstrate reason and responsibility. My problem is with handing the damn things out like candy to any drunken blindfolded idiot* that sleepwalks through the (might as well be frakking nonexistent) regulations we've supposedly got vetting gun owners.
A lot of that just has to do with being in Florida, though. There might as well not be any controls on the damned things down here, from everything I've seen on the ground.
Most of th'rest of what you said I'm on board with, though, 'cept the bit with only criminals getting powerful guns part. Think that line of thinking's been addressed in the thread already.
*Edit: Okay, a bit of hyperbole here. I never have seen anyone that was blindfolded manage to purchase a firearm. Legally blind, yes, but not blindfolded. Drunk and stupid stand, both concurrently and not.