If the 2nd amendment is the law of the land, why can't the average person just go up and buy an Abrams Main Battle Tank to go and play militia with?
Because politicians passed laws that prevent companies from selling "military equipment" to civilian. Heck Arnold back in the day had a hell of a time getting a Humvee. They basically had to create a civilian version of it to be able to sell one to him and where talking about an unarmed transport vehicle. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hummers-now-history-----h_b_316269. You don't think these companies would want to make a few extra sales to millionaires and billionaire who want to have some fun. Other more important factor is reverse engineering. You can bet China would be duplicating whatever it was within hours if they could buy it. Lastly I don't think Demarcus and Leshawn could afford it anyway so you could rest assured it probably would get into the hands of many and those who could afford it have too much to lose to screw around with it.
Because even the die hards realize it makes no sense. Using a strict interpretation of a 225+ something year old piece of paper as a reason why things can never change is ridiculous.
Some things don't change, not even after 225+ years. Government tyranny is one of them. Just ask the people of Venezuela who voted in their oppressors and are now subjugated to whatever stupidities the government imposes because they have no way to fight back.
The founding fathers likely couldn't even envision high capacity drum magazines on a compact semi-automatic rifles. If the idea is to keep the government in check,
(it is) how exactly is a "militia" with rifles and pistols supposed to stand a chance against missiles, jets, tanks and armored vehicles of modern day government?
Numbers and tactics. With all their bombs, jets, tanks and technology how is it that they had so much trouble in the middle east? You're also forgetting to factor in the human component where I'd be willing to guarantee at least a quarter of the army would outright refuse to engage fellow Americans. Lastly you think they only have hunting/AR rifles? See this video as one example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7WrUEpJAFQ
Both positions in this case are sort of flawed. "Oh noes, pistol grips on a rifle! Danger, Danger! Telescoping stock! Think of the children! Those are simply modern features of modern sporting rifles.
They need better training / licencing requirements before they go nuts on "feel good" bans of popular sporting rifles that don't address the underlying issues.