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AmmoLand: The deceptive term “Assault Weapons” has proven to be a buzz word among the anti-gun media. Back in 2000 in your book “The America We Deserve” you wrote “The Republicans walk the NRA line and refuse to even limited restrictions. I generally oppose gun control, but I support the ban on assault weapons and I also support a slightly longer waiting period to purchase a gun.” Since that time the AR15 rifle, what the media calls an “assault weapons“, has become America’s most popular firearm with millions and millions of them owned by good people.

Do you still stand by this quote or has your thinking evolved over the 15 years since you wrote that line?

Donald Trump:

“I certainly stand by my opposition to Gun Control when it comes to taking guns from law-abiding citizens. You mention that the media describes the AR-15 as an “assault rifle,” which is one example of the many distortions they use to sell their agenda. However, the AR-15 does not fall under this category. Gun-banners are unfortunately preoccupied with the AR-15, magazine capacity, grips, and other aesthetics, precisely because of its popularity.”
“To the Left every gun is an assault weapon.”

“Gun control does not reduce crime. It has consistently failed to stop violence. Americans are entitled to protect their families, their property and themselves. In fact, in right-to-carry states the violent crime rate is 24% lower than the rest of the United States and the murder rate is 28% lower. This should not be up for debate.”

That's all well and good, except the "ban on assault weapons" he supported is THE "Clinton Assault Weapons Ban" - the very one which targeted and banned certain rifles based on their appearance and magazines based on their capacities - and which banned NO (as-in, zero, nada, zilch, zippo) actual Assault Weapons (i.e. select-fire and fully automatic rifles and pistols).

I suppose next he'll try to claim that he was referring to the 1934 National Firearms Act when he wrote of his support for "the ban on assault weapons".

He can dance around his previous comments all he wants, but he HAS (apparently) changed his position on the issue. And I don't trust him enough to believe the change is sincere.