text: is the purpose of the 2nd amendment to preserve our right to hunt deer, or violently overthrow the government? the proffered argument that automatic weapons aren't useful in sporting, and therefore should be illegal, seems specious. how can we democrats, defenders of personal liberty, side with gun control? the 2nd amendment, along with the other amendments from the bill of rights, were designed to overthrow the federal government if it became too oppressive. look at the entire bill of rights...almost all of the amendments would be essential to overthrow a government.  the individuals responsible for the bill of rights were opposed to a federal government. they insisted that the bill of rights be attached before they would ratify the constitution. they are usually referred to today as the "anti-federalists", and those who were for the federal government were known as the "federalists".   you can find some of the writings of the anti-federalists online, and there are some books printed that have their collective writings in them. read them and you'll understand their thoughts, fears, and reasonings behind the bill of rights.   most people today, including the aclu, are ignorant about the bill of rights. they were not designed to be "personal" rights (so to speak), but designed to overthrow the government...long may they stand.