Back in the day, everyone used muzzle-loaders and for that reason everyone was on an even playing-field. If you take the 2nd Amendment seriously, as meaning the people have the right to defend themselves against a tyrannical government, then yes, I would say that private citizens should be able to own the same stuff that the govt does. You can shoot fully automatic weapons at gun clubs in AZ, including .50 cal machine guns. It's a hackneyed old expression, but the truth of the matter is that nuts need to be regulated more than guns do. But of course that's too difficult for the resource-challenged govt to handle. Same logic that goes into banning alcohol at the beach because one-half of one percent abuses it and ruins it for the other 99.5. Govt solution: everybody suffers because it's easier for us that way. Get it? You work for us.