Tis a sad fact of life that our system of government has a great number of flaws and often they don't work in our favor. Everyone is happy to ignore them when they do benefit us, and whine endlessly when the shoe is on the other foot, (or WE get the other end of the stick
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The Hughes Amendment which closed the civilian machinegun registry was added with the intent of it being a poison pill. There was even some sources at the time who said it wasn't added in accordance with proper procedure, but the chairman declared it passed and part of the bill, anyway.
Moot point now, but I believe it.
Since our President lacks the power of line item veto (that many state governors have) signing a bill into law is an all or nothing matter. While you or I might not agree with the decision (particularly NOW with decades of experience with the results) Reagan choose what he felt was the greatest good for the greatest number and signed it into law.
Was it a good thing? Depends on your point of view. If you're someone who wants to own a legal machinegun and can't afford the cost, then you probably don't think so.
If you're someone who gets saved by the FOPA despite everything an anti gun state does trying to convict you, or a dealer who doesn't go to prison for simply making an error writing down a number, then you probably have a different opinion.
Always remember that those of us who want and are or would be full auto enthusiasts are a SMALL portion of the gun owners in this country and most of them have been "taught" that machineguns are bad, and dangerous long ago, and are being "taught" today that semi autos are just as bad...
And, sad but true, because we elect our government, we get what the majority chooses, for good, or ill. The alternatives are worse.
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