AZRedhawk44 :
Re reply/post #6, you might have some salient points there, however I still believe that The Congress and it's lying double-talk is an ongoing problem.
AZR, do you really think Heller can be used to overturn 922(o)?
As to overturning 922, that's Section 922 isn't it, I believe that what is needed there is unrelenting pressure from the people, spelled the gun owners of this country, which MIGHT be enough, if only it could be suitably organized and maintained.
I've always felt that machine guns have been and always will be a dead issue. They are not really needed (nor intended) for self defense. No one is going to give up machine guns based on the arguement, "I just want to make fireworks." You would have to revist the Heller decision and confirm that the individual right is connected to some sort of collective right of the militia to exist/train. Then if they grant machine guns, by the same logic they would have to grant tanks, fighter jets, and a carpet bombers. Never going to happen.
To hell with this "need" business. As to the "intended" purpose, reading the minds of people long dead was never my strong suit, it isn't now either, however where is it written that an SMG, for instance, could not be used defensively? John Ross in Unintended Consequences described the National Firearms Act of 1934 as "welfare for Treasury (Prohibition) Agents". While some will no doubt dispute that view, it always sounded valid to me, and it still does. By the way, I have, from time to time, fired light automatic weapons (SMG's). Having done so in the past, I doubt that I'd rush down the street to the local machine gun store to buy one, even if there was that "local machine gun store" that sold the things without the endless paper work foolishness, and the current ridiculous prices. To each their own though.
All:
One more thought. Remember that the ultimate and unchanging goal of the anti's is, from their own mouth's, The Total Proscription of Firearms. They might exempt those in the hands of "government actors", but most assuredly, gun ownership, possession and use for Mr., Mrs. and Ms. Everyperson would be history.