"should be called legislation against "scary looking" weapons."
That's why I say 'so-called' assault weapons. A few years back, the liberals invented something called a 'Saturday night special'. It was a vaguely described firearm that eventually was expanded to include anything with a barrel length under 6" and even all single actions. It all just proves that those most vehemently opposed to gun ownership know the least about them.
I always get a kick out of that one and use it in my arguments with reoporters who write about the 50 cal. "sniper" rifle. I point out to them that the antis can't make up their minds. First it was those cheap, easily-concealed, short-barrelled "Saturday Night Specials" that would end Western Civilization. Of a sudden, it is now expensive, cumbersome, stick-out-like-a-thumb five-foot-long 50 calibers that are the boogeyman.
Then again (I point out), they HAVE made up their minds. ALL guns are eeevil and they dart around like schools of minnows looking for some small segment to ban. The Communists called this the "artichoke principle" - peel away one leaf at a time until nothing remains. Birds of a feather.