" By all means, Mr Hamilton. And while we're at it, why don't we legalize hand grenades? "

" I want to keep my Remington 870 shotgun(pump) that will hold THREE shells! I say go for the resolution! "

" What, Ms Early Bird? Now you want us to hunt deer with hand grenades? Imagine, Bambi sausage with scrapnel!Good grief! "

" gringa- Just a little note of correction, Early Bird is a buck, not a doe.Just thought I'd clear that up. Good morning Early Bird. Looks like we're not going to agree on this one my friend. "

" The 2nd Amendment isn't pro hunting, The 2nd amendment is anti tyranny.. "

" Earlybird: You show me the legislators trying to legalize grenades. I'll show you the legislators trying to ban handguns, rifles, and shotguns of every make and model. "

" Oh, they're going to let you keep and bear arms. Now they just want to make ammuniton illegal. Isn't that just GREAT!!! "

" T.K. Slaughter, you've hit the nail on the head. Let's not cloak the 2nd Amendment argument as merely a 'pro-hunting concern'. I don't wear a flack jacket and helmet around town in my pickup with an automatic hung across the rear window, but I do have concerns about losing my right to bear arms against foreign and domestic threats to myself and my family. "

" Amen attaindage! I'm not giving up my 870! Period! "

" Since when do hunters in Illinois use semi-automatic rifles to hunt deer? Last time I checked, only shotguns, large bore pistols (at certain times) and muzzle loaders are allowed. "

" medic, My 870 will be considered a semi-automatic weapon, if the anti-gun people get their way. Mine is a trap grade not field grade, but that won't make any difference. It just infuriates me that the legal and responsible gun owners have to put up with this ant-gun hysteria. The criminal element that wants a gun is not going to go through legal channels to obtain one. No, the anti-gun people want to penelize us, the legal owners who should be able to have them. There's enough laws on the books now. We don't need anymore. Enforce the ones that are in place. Go after the "street thugs" that get them illegally and committ crimes. Leave the legal owner's alone! "

" Semi-auto shotguns are on the "Evil gun" list. There's also the assumption that Illinois is the only state a person can hunt in. "

" The Second Amendment is not about hunting. It does not give us any right. The right to keep and bear arms is an inalienable right granted to citizens by virtue of their citizenship. The Second Amendment simply affirms that right. It can be argued that the tenth amendment actually prohibits the states from regulating the right to keep and bear arms since that right is mentioned in the Constitution and "shall not be infringed". The Second Amendment affirms that we all, as citizens, have the right to keep and bear arms to protect ourselves, our loved ones, our property, and yes, our country against against any and all enemies. If we find ways to use those arms as recreation, i.e. target shooting, hunting, plinking, collecting, investments, etc. then that's OK too. Read through the papers written and published by our founding Father's at the time of the revolution and Constitution. Their "aim" of the bearing of arms is pretty clear. If you, as a citizen, choose not to exercise that right, then so be it. Not all exercise their First Amendment rights either. But it is theirs to use as long as they cause no other person harm. Same with the Second, if you don't want to own, bear, carry or obtain arms, that's fine. But if I do, and I don't use them to break laws, then I have the right to own them without having to justify them to anyone!! Check out the gun laws in Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri just to name our neighbors. I think you'll find that Illinois resembles a socialist state regarding firearm laws compared to them. While you're at it, check out the rest of the 48 states that have some form of permit allowing law-abiding citizens to use firearms to protect themselves and their families. Then check out some third party, unbiased crime statistics. You'll find that the areas with the most restrictive gun laws have the highest crime rates in the country. Coincidence??? I think not. T "

" How about a vote to force CONGRESS to Declare War instead. Seems like if we are going to use the Constitution in one way, we should follow it completely. Coonsey's View (political blog and forum) http://www.freewebs.com/coonsey/ "

" Im keeping all our guns... If we dont only the crooks will have them...and we will be up a sheet creek with a paddle stuck you know where.... "

" Billie Brant -- I believe I said Rifle, not shotgun. And there is no feasable reason for a person to want to own an AK47. -- Amendment II 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. --- I believe we have the right to bear arms to protect our country, it doesn't talk about anything else. "

" Medic, I wasn't commenting on the guns used for hunting per se' when I mentioned my 870. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I just meant that my 870 would be on the list of semi-automatics, which I think is rididulous. As far as having a "heavy duty" rifle, Toby purchased an M14 like the one he had trained on while in the Army a few years before his death. He used it purely for shooting targets.Always he was very careful, knowing full well what that thing could do. I liked to shoot it too. The criminals are going to be able to get these kinds of weapons no matter how many laws are on the books. They are not going to go through legal channels to obtain them. Just for general information, I no longer have the M14. As far as protecting our country as you mentioned, I'm a part of it, and I feel I have the right to own a gun to protect myself, my family and my property. I was taught the proper use of them and how to handle them safely. I shouldn't be penalized because the criminals don't respect the laws concerning buying firearms. "

" We have three ‘semi-automatic’ shotguns loaded and ready. We have a bolt action rifle with an 8-clip loaded with hollow points ready for long shots if required. We're shopping for a ‘45’ for close-range knock-back fire power. We have FOID cards (What a joke that is! Bad guys don't have them.) We haven't hunted for over ten years now, and we're not gun collectors. So, why do we need these firearms? Word clues: Waco, Reno, Clinton, overkill. **** Now, granted, what happened at the Davidian compound before the government slaughtered 80 men, women, and children may have been legitimately termed 'armed and dangerous cultism', but David Koresh could have been arrested in town, peacefully, dozens of times during the 10-month investigation prior to February 28, 1993, before the bloody 51-day siege even began. "

" We have three ‘semi-automatic’ shotguns loaded and ready. We have a bolt action rifle with an 8-clip loaded with hollow points ready for long shots if required. We're shopping for a ‘45’ for close-range knock-back fire power. •••• What, no flamethrowers, bazookas or hand grenades? How ever do you manage to feel safe? "

" Billie Brant wrote on Oct 11, 2007 Take the standard stock off of an ordinary rifle, put a pistol grip on it and then take a picture of yourself with it. A whole bunch of people will SWEAR you are holding an assult rifle! It "looks" MORE sinister and more like the AK47's and UZI's they see in pictures. "..... From the other site on this matter. "

" Hey gringa, have you also considered land mines, trip wires and security cameras? "

" Claymores. "

" gringa wrote --- We have three ‘semi-automatic’ shotguns loaded and ready. We have a bolt action rifle with an 8-clip loaded with hollow points ready for long shots if required. We're shopping for a ‘45’ for close-range knock-back fire power. ----- WHY?, what are you afraid of that you need an arsenal? "

" YIKES!!! "

" Three good reasons to own and know how to properly use them. 1> Street Thugs-As long as citizens have the right to own weapons, they'll have to guess which home to invade. 2> Government Criminals-As long as citizens own weapons, the citizens reduce the opportunities for a POLICE STATE. 3> International Terrorists and Fanatics-As long as U.S. citizens own weapons, the terrorists and fanatics will not be so eager to invade the USA with ground forces. Private citizens and those that are VETERANS don't have to play by the same rules as the military or police. And we (the Vets) are everywhere. "

" I also have what I call the 'Silent Killer', better known as a bow, and arrows with hunting tips. "

" Wow, it looks like paranoia is alive and well in east central Illinois. "

" gringa wrote -- So, why do we need these firearms? Word clues: Waco, Reno, Clinton, overkill. --- That's why Waco wanted them too, and where did that get them. Accumulating and arsenal is just asking for trouble. "

" I'll ask again: Earlybird, show me the legislators trying to legalize grenades. I've shown you the ones trying to ban firearms. "