“Shall not be infringed”
“Shall not be infringed”
The Issue
Petition to the United States Congress and the President of the United States:
Subject: Restore Full Second Amendment Rights – Legalize Automatic Weapons for Law-Abiding American Citizens
We, the undersigned American citizens, respectfully petition the United States Congress and the President to repeal or amend federal restrictions on the private ownership of automatic firearms (machine guns) by law-abiding adults, allowing them to be owned freely without special licensing, registration, or taxation beyond standard firearms rules that apply to semi-automatic weapons.
Background and Rationale
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states: “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.” This right was intended to protect the individual ownership of arms in common use for self-defense, militia service, and resistance to tyranny. At the time of ratification, private citizens could own and possess the most advanced arms available, including multi-shot firearms.
The National Firearms Act of 1934 and subsequent laws (such as the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act of 1986) heavily restricted automatic weapons, creating a registry, $200 tax stamp requirements, and a ban on new civilian machine guns manufactured after 1986. These measures have turned what should be a fundamental right into a limited privilege accessible mainly to the wealthy or those with special connections. Law-abiding citizens are effectively barred from owning modern automatic firearms in the same manner as other arms.
Key Arguments:
1. Constitutional Fidelity: The Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and McDonald v. Chicago (2010) affirmed the individual right to keep and bear arms for self-defense. Further cases like Bruen (2022) emphasize that restrictions must be consistent with the nation’s historical tradition. Automatic weapons were known and owned privately in the early republic (e.g., early repeating arms and later developments). Modern restrictions represent a departure from original understanding.
2. Public Safety and Crime: Criminals already obtain and use illegal automatic weapons when they choose to, as seen in certain high-profile incidents. Restricting law-abiding citizens does not disarm criminals—it only disarms the innocent. States with strong Second Amendment protections often have lower violent crime rates when adjusted for demographics and other factors. Responsible gun owners with automatic firearms pose no greater statistical threat than owners of other firearms.
3. Self-Defense and Equality: Automatic fire provides a meaningful advantage in defensive scenarios against multiple attackers or in high-threat environments. Denying this to civilians while government agencies and certain protected classes retain access creates an unequal playing field inconsistent with a free republic.
4. Economic and Practical Benefits: Legalizing automatic weapons for free ownership would boost the firearms industry, create jobs, increase tax revenue, and allow innovation in civilian defensive tools. The current closed registry artificially inflates prices for pre-1986 models into the tens of thousands of dollars.
5. Historical Precedent: For much of American history, there were minimal federal restrictions on firearms ownership, including fully automatic weapons before the 1930s. The founders trusted armed citizens as a check on government power.
Specific Requests:
• Repeal the Hughes Amendment (1986) and amend the National Firearms Act to remove automatic weapons from Title II restrictions.
• Eliminate the manufacturing ban on new machine guns for civilian sale.
• End the $200 transfer tax, registration requirements, and waiting periods specific to automatic firearms.
• Treat automatic weapons under the same framework as semi-automatic rifles and handguns for background checks (NICS) and prohibited persons rules.
• Protect existing owners from retroactive restrictions.
We urge Congress to pass legislation and the President to sign it, restoring the full scope of the Second Amendment. This change would affirm that the right to bear arms includes the most effective tools for that purpose, consistent with our founding principles.
We demand action to protect the liberty of the American people.
16
The Issue
Petition to the United States Congress and the President of the United States:
Subject: Restore Full Second Amendment Rights – Legalize Automatic Weapons for Law-Abiding American Citizens
We, the undersigned American citizens, respectfully petition the United States Congress and the President to repeal or amend federal restrictions on the private ownership of automatic firearms (machine guns) by law-abiding adults, allowing them to be owned freely without special licensing, registration, or taxation beyond standard firearms rules that apply to semi-automatic weapons.
Background and Rationale
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states: “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.” This right was intended to protect the individual ownership of arms in common use for self-defense, militia service, and resistance to tyranny. At the time of ratification, private citizens could own and possess the most advanced arms available, including multi-shot firearms.
The National Firearms Act of 1934 and subsequent laws (such as the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act of 1986) heavily restricted automatic weapons, creating a registry, $200 tax stamp requirements, and a ban on new civilian machine guns manufactured after 1986. These measures have turned what should be a fundamental right into a limited privilege accessible mainly to the wealthy or those with special connections. Law-abiding citizens are effectively barred from owning modern automatic firearms in the same manner as other arms.
Key Arguments:
1. Constitutional Fidelity: The Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and McDonald v. Chicago (2010) affirmed the individual right to keep and bear arms for self-defense. Further cases like Bruen (2022) emphasize that restrictions must be consistent with the nation’s historical tradition. Automatic weapons were known and owned privately in the early republic (e.g., early repeating arms and later developments). Modern restrictions represent a departure from original understanding.
2. Public Safety and Crime: Criminals already obtain and use illegal automatic weapons when they choose to, as seen in certain high-profile incidents. Restricting law-abiding citizens does not disarm criminals—it only disarms the innocent. States with strong Second Amendment protections often have lower violent crime rates when adjusted for demographics and other factors. Responsible gun owners with automatic firearms pose no greater statistical threat than owners of other firearms.
3. Self-Defense and Equality: Automatic fire provides a meaningful advantage in defensive scenarios against multiple attackers or in high-threat environments. Denying this to civilians while government agencies and certain protected classes retain access creates an unequal playing field inconsistent with a free republic.
4. Economic and Practical Benefits: Legalizing automatic weapons for free ownership would boost the firearms industry, create jobs, increase tax revenue, and allow innovation in civilian defensive tools. The current closed registry artificially inflates prices for pre-1986 models into the tens of thousands of dollars.
5. Historical Precedent: For much of American history, there were minimal federal restrictions on firearms ownership, including fully automatic weapons before the 1930s. The founders trusted armed citizens as a check on government power.
Specific Requests:
• Repeal the Hughes Amendment (1986) and amend the National Firearms Act to remove automatic weapons from Title II restrictions.
• Eliminate the manufacturing ban on new machine guns for civilian sale.
• End the $200 transfer tax, registration requirements, and waiting periods specific to automatic firearms.
• Treat automatic weapons under the same framework as semi-automatic rifles and handguns for background checks (NICS) and prohibited persons rules.
• Protect existing owners from retroactive restrictions.
We urge Congress to pass legislation and the President to sign it, restoring the full scope of the Second Amendment. This change would affirm that the right to bear arms includes the most effective tools for that purpose, consistent with our founding principles.
We demand action to protect the liberty of the American people.
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on July 12, 2026