“Assault weapon” defined by the Clinton Assault Weapons Ban.
Here’s a good refresher primer:
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/guncontrol/a/Assault-Weapons.htm
“A Broadened Category of Assault Weapons”
“While civilian ownership of automatic weapons has been heavily regulated in the U.S. since 1934, most semi-automatic weapons remained legal until 1994.
“The AWB defined a broad category of semi-automatic rifles, handguns and shotguns with military-style characteristics as being “assault weapons.” The law made it illegal to make those weapons in the U.S. for a 10-year period. In 2004, the AWB expired when Congress did not vote to renew it. As a result, it became legal to produce and own those firearms once again.
“In general, the AWB defined any firearm with a detachable magazine and at least two of certain other characteristics as an assault weapon.
“For rifles, those characteristics included:
Telescoping stock
Pistol grip
Bayonet mount
Grenade launcher
Flash suppressor
For shotguns:
Telescoping stock
Pistol grip
A capacity to hold more than five rounds.”
I think the left wants to go back to that definition, including semi-automatic rifles, but only those with those features.
There was a reason Congress decided in 2004 not not renew it: It’s because even the critters recognized it was a stupid law. It invidiously discriminated between `acceptable’ hunting semi-autos (Elmer Fudd guns) and **evil** black carbines possessed by many of the yahoos here, myself included. (Before the tragic boating accident.)
Hope that’s helpful to anyone new here to our tussle with the fascist Demokratisch Sozialisten Parti.
They just want our guns, so we say over-and-over to them, `Come and get them’.
As a postscript, keep in mind that I believe all of us here are on the same page as to the real definition of an “assault rifle.” (Not Clinton’s definition cut from whole cloth.)
Read the article: the term came from (drum roll) California.
The military considers an “assault rifle” (notice I’m using scary marks) to be a rifle capable of fully automatic fire.
And Lieberman concedes this point in saying that they were initially designed for the military.
Those weapons are already regulated. I suspect most of us own semi-automatics, civilian pieces.
So there’s nothing here for any of you lurking Dims but heartache. Go away, save a whale, I say, or somezing, or I shall taunt you a second time ....
The question is during the 10 year ban were there any mass killings or rather did the ban prevent any.