[metalurgist]

Where then does the federal government get the power to restrict my choice of militia weapon as to rate of fire, magazine capacity, bayonets lugs, etc, etc.

My state constitution says "the right of the citizen to bear arms in defense self and the state shall not be questioned". The feds are clearly infringing on my rights and my state's rights with their demands for registration and restrictions on the type of firearm I need. >

[Brucifer]

The other side counters: what if the weapons in question had been bazookas instead of sawed-off shotguns?

I believe that this is a straw man argument. A bazooka is a crew served weapon. So are belt fed machineguns, F-16s and atomic bombs. The 2nd Amendment was meant to protect and defend the rights and duties of individuals. If it takes more than one person to carry or operate a weapon it is a crew served weapon and not an individual rifleman's weapon. If the 2nd amendment protects individual rights, then the logic is pretty clear.
I have also read that there were discussions when the Articles of Confederation were adopted over whether an individual could own a cannon as a personal firearm. Nope, crew served. I wish I had a dollar for every time I've heard libs and anti-gun bugs play this as what they think is a trump card.

[robertpaulsen]

"The feds are clearly infringing on my rights and my state's rights with their demands for registration and restrictions on the type of firearm I need."

Yes. The Supremacy Clause allows them to do that.

I wasn't aware that Pennsylvania required registration. A background check, yes.