Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: So, why didn't the recent mass murderers use bolt action deer rifles and revolvers? [View all]S_B_Jackson
(906 posts)Colt began offering the semi-auto SP1 variant of the AR-15 series in 1963, and has offered it steadily in one form or another since.
Browning imported the FAL, in semi-auto configuration, for a short time in the early 1960's (about 1961). They ceased importation after only a year or two as they were deemed by the ATF as easily convertable to automatic-fire.
CETME imported semi-auto versions into the US for only a short time in the late 1960's or early 1970's, but the number was VERY small, and demand was never high. They are fairly rare.
HK began importation of the G3 series (semi-auto variants) in the late 1960's, but really did not gain any market acceptance until they established HK-USA in about 1978, when the product became widely known.
So you had a choice of semi-automatic "evil black rifles", M1 Garand (semi-automatic) battle rifles, M1 Carbines, bolt-action, and lever-action rifles; as for shotguns one could purchase a break-action, a lever-action, pump-action, or semi-automatic varieties (first available for sale from Browning beginning in 1905).