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In reply to the discussion: The only purpose of "assault" weapons is to kill people. [View all]spin
(17,493 posts)199. I personally use the term "black rifle" or "assault style rifle" to refer to AR type ...
rifles such as the AR-10 or AR-15 and similar rifles. The terminology is confusing. I could call them "assault weapons" but there is considerable confusion about the meaning of that term.
Assault weapon
This article is about the American politico-legal term. You may be looking for Assault rifle, or for FGM-172 SRAW (Short-Range Assault Weapon), M202 FLASH (FLame Assault SHoulder Weapon), or Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon.
Assault weapon is a classification of semi-automatic firearm utilizing an intermediate-power cartridge and is frequently conflated with assault rifle, a firearm with full-automatic (that is, machine gun) capability. Unlike the firearms related term "assault rifle", however, the term 'assault weapon' has no consistent or specific definition across all legal jurisdictions in the United States, and is, therefore, subject to varying definitions for varying purposes, including definitions that can include military firearms in some states. In the United States, there are several statutory definitions of assault weapons in local, state, and federal laws that define them by a set of characteristics they possess, sometimes described as military-style cosmetic features. Using lists of cosmetic features or lists of specific firearms in defining semi-automatic assault weapons in the U.S. was first codified by the language of the now-expired 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban.[1][2]
***snip***
Nonetheless, assault weapon is a term which has been given many different meanings.[6] For example, some pistols are also classified as assault weapons, despite clearly not possessing the cosmetic features of an assault rifle, under both state and Federal laws.[7] Another definition is any of various automatic and semi-automatic military firearms utilizing an intermediate-power cartridge.[8] The reason is that since the definition of assault weapon is only defined by cosmetic features, both semi-automatic firearms that possess these cosmetics, as well as full-auto firearms that possess these same cosmetic features, irrespective of the presence or absence of the operational functions of assault rifles, is enough in some states to cause a firearm to be classified by the term assault weapon. Federal Laws, however, clearly make the distinction that assault weapons that possess both the cosmetic and operational features of assault rifles are Title II weapons, not assault weapons, and Title II weapons are heavily regulated by the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934, passed in response to infamous Prohibition Era use of machine guns. Some state laws, however, make no such distinction, classifying all firearms with either the cosmetic features or the actual operational features of "assault rifles" as "assault weapons". Hence, some state definitions of assault weapon explicitly include assault rifles.[9] For example, in the State of Connecticut, an assault weapon is legally defined as "any selective-fire firearm capable of fully automatic, semiautomatic or burst fire at the option of the user".[10]. Only seven states have such state-level assault-weapons bans in place[11]; in all other states, assault weapons are considered semi-automatic only, per prior definitions established by Federal law.[1][2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_weapon
You have every right to call my post "nonsense" as that is your opinion. You might note that I did not ridicule the original post when I replied to it. I merely pointed out that it was factually wrong.
Are you suggesting that hunters who use a traditional style semi-auto rifle are better sportsmen than those who chose to use a more modern AR style rifle with a five round magazine? Perhaps you feel that a true sportsman would use a single shot rifle or a bolt action rifle to hunt. If so I will point out that the one of the most popular hunting rifles for deer in our nation is the 30-30 lever action rifle which holds 5 or six rounds and one in the chamber.
No you don't need a "black gun" to target shoot. I enjoy target shooting revolvers and while some of mine are black, others are stainless steel or nickle plated.
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And you win the Inappropriately Inaccurate Insinuation Analogy Award for the day.
PavePusher
Dec 2012
#212
There is also a Zen mind aspect to shoot that people have failed to mention.
socialindependocrat
Dec 2012
#156
"Yes, freedom does require responsibility and it is time you become responsible for freedom."
calimary
Dec 2012
#172
We have actually done that many times (visiting the local VA hospital and the combat veterans
calimary
Dec 2012
#160
If you're in this thread arguing in favor of assault weapons, you're my enemy
DisgustipatedinCA
Dec 2012
#256
Dead Is Dead Well Informed Or Not - As A Citizen I Can Work to Criminalize Gun Ownership
cantbeserious
Dec 2012
#24
Yes, heaven forfend you should actually know what you were attempting to criminalize.
Lizzie Poppet
Dec 2012
#31
You can be absolutely sure that the NRA will be there to let them know everything they need to know.
RC
Dec 2012
#110
here are your details. i am not interested in your opinion of them so don't reply, please
farminator3000
Dec 2012
#179
Pardon me if I have a hard time understanding how you take such a clinical view
pinboy3niner
Dec 2012
#78
"Also, many gun "enthusiasts" brag about how easy it is to change a semi auto into an auto."
PavePusher
Dec 2012
#248
Typical AK ammunition is ballistically very similar to the venerable .30-30 lever-action round.
PavePusher
Dec 2012
#219
well, there is more than one, but yours makes no sense at all in context
farminator3000
Dec 2012
#96
Splitting hairs. They are SALW and most certainly would be part of the
Warren Stupidity
Dec 2012
#242
former Chief Justice Burger - individual right to bear arms was “one of the greatest pieces of
farminator3000
Dec 2012
#93
Sometimes, killing people is a legitimate solution to a dire situation.
OneTenthofOnePercent
Dec 2012
#23
Sometimes the only way to stop someone from hurting you is to use lethal force.
aikoaiko
Dec 2012
#26
It's worse than that: the only purpose of assault weapons is to kill people IN GROUPS.
paulkienitz
Dec 2012
#44
with all do respect according to Minnesota hunting laws duck hunters can only have 12 shells
azurnoir
Dec 2012
#45
If this is the case why do we not then take them from the police and government?
Remmah2
Dec 2012
#98
No, no, no. You're purchase of an assault weapon compels me to do likewise because they are ASSAULT
patrice
Dec 2012
#157
I was just thinking about this. Trying to sort through the various assault scenarios & I came up
patrice
Dec 2012
#151
What are the public grounds for being concerned about private assault capabilities, latent or
patrice
Dec 2012
#153
Hunters do use black rifles and they are definitely gaining in popularity with hunters. ...
spin
Dec 2012
#159
I personally use the term "black rifle" or "assault style rifle" to refer to AR type ...
spin
Dec 2012
#199
I know. I'm saying it's a fairly commonly used synonym for military-style rifles
Recursion
Dec 2012
#218
I don't disagree entirely, and there are many things we can do to help fix the problem.
PavePusher
Dec 2012
#247
Education, jobs, health care (including mental health), end Prohibition II....
PavePusher
Dec 2012
#253
his right to be safe @ the grocery is more important to a majority of people than your right to own
farminator3000
Dec 2012
#255
I open carry at Fry's grocery here in in Arizona and get complemented by the staff.
PavePusher
Dec 2012
#261
why don't you ask ex-congresswoman Giffords what she thinks about that? prob not so nice
farminator3000
Dec 2012
#262
just a bump so people will read post #196 in this thread. it might make you cry, careful
farminator3000
Dec 2012
#257
nope. i was educated by a du'er that he & pals play games & have matches with theirs.
spanone
Dec 2012
#267