NOTE: If you want a machine gun you should be able to have a machine gun. Heller Schmeller. The “shall not be infringed” bit in the Second Amendment is clear on that point. OK, so, in what circumstance would a machine gun be preferable to a semi-automatic rifle for personal defense? If you could keep a full auto around to defend hearth and home (and trailer and boat and etc.), would you? Thanks to Slide Fire and their very understanding friends at the ATF, you can (kinda ish). So what’s stopping you?