[BonnieJ]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what EXACTLY is an assault weapon??

[husky ed]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what EXACTLY is an assault weapon??

Turkish Bolt Action

And just about anything else they want to call "Assault Weapon".

[GhostofWCooper]

"what exactly is an Assault Weapon?"

That's a very good question. It seems to be a any semi-automatic rifle or semi-automatic pistol that is scary looking.. You know, with doodads and handles or little sling swivels and stuff. The definition continues to evolve. Within a year or two, it could mean anything more powerful than a BB gun.

[Hat-Trick]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what EXACTLY is an assault weapon??

Excellent question! Aren't they all? In the gun-grabber's zest to dehumanize the taking of innocent life, I believe, the term "assault weapon" was born.

I'm pretty sure the hyper-libido rabbits in my backyard consider my Crossman .177 pellet gun an "assault weapon".

Hat-Trick

[Yo-Yo]

BonnieJ Wrote:
"Please excuse my ignorance, but what EXACTLY is an assault weapon??"

That's easy!

The Federal Government defines "Assault Weapon" (From Title 18 United States Code, section 921) as:

(30) The term "semiautomatic assault weapon" means--
(A) any of the firearms, or copies or duplicates of the firearms in any caliber, known as--
(i) Norinco, Mitchell, and Poly Technologies Avtomat Kalashnikovs (all models);
(ii) Action Arms Israeli Military Industries UZI and Galil;
(iii) Beretta Ar70 (SC-70);
(iv) Colt AR-15;
(v) Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR, and FNC;
(vi) SWD M-10, M-11, M-11/9, and M-12;
(vii) Steyr AUG;
(viii) INTRATEC TEC-9, TEC-DC9 and TEC-22; and
(ix) revolving cylinder shotguns, such as (or similar to) the Street Sweeper and Striker 12;

(B) a semiautomatic rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of--
(i) a folding or telescoping stock;
(ii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;
(iii) a bayonet mount;
(iv) a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor; and
(v) a grenade launcher;

(C) a semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of--
(i) an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;
(ii) a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer;
(iii) a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand without being burned;
(iv) a manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; and
(v) a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm; and

(D) a semiautomatic shotgun that has at least 2 of--
(i) a folding or telescoping stock;
(ii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;
(iii) a fixed magazine capacity in excess of 5 rounds; and
(iv) an ability to accept a detachable magazine.

However, the State of California defnies Assault Weapon (from California Penal Code 12276) as:

§ 12276. "Assault weapon"

As used in this chapter, "assault weapon" shall mean the following designated semiautomatic firearms:

(a) All of the following specified rifles:

(1) All AK series including, but not limited to, the models identified as follows:

(A) Made in China AK, AKM, AKS, AK47, AK47S, 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.

(B) Norinco 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.

(C) Poly Technologies AKS and AK47.

(D) MAADI AK47 and ARM.

(2) UZI and Galil.

(3) Beretta AR-70.

(4) CETME Sporter.

(5) Colt AR-15 series.

(6) Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C.

(7) Fabrique Nationale FAL, LAR, FNC, 308 Match, and Sporter.

(8) MAS 223.

(9) HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, and HK-PSG-1.

(10) The following MAC types:

(A) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.

(B) SWD Incorporated M11.

(11) SKS with detachable magazine.

(12) SIG AMT, PE-57, SG 550, and SG 551.

(13) Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48.

(14) Sterling MK-6.

(15) Steyer AUG.

(16) Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78S.

(17) Armalite AR-180.

(18) Bushmaster Assault Rifle.

(19) Calico M-900.

(20) J & R ENG M-68.

(21) Weaver Arms Nighthawk.

(b) All of the following specified pistols:

(1) UZI.

(2) Encom MP-9 and MP-45.

(3) The following MAC types:

(A) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.

(B) SWD Incorporated M-11.

(C) Advance Armament Inc. M-11.

(D) Military Armament Corp. Ingram M-11.

(4) Intratec TEC-9.

(5) Sites Spectre.

(6) Sterling MK-7.

(7) Calico M-950.

(8) Bushmaster Pistol.

(c) All of the following specified shotguns:

(1) Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12.

(2) Striker 12.

(3) The Streetsweeper type S/S Inc. SS/12.

(d) Any firearm declared by the court pursuant to Section 12276.5 to be an assault weapon that is specified as an assault weapon in a list promulgated pursuant to Section 12276.5.

(e) The term "series" includes all other models that are only variations, with minor differences, of those models listed in subdivision (a), regardless of the manufacturer.

and California Penal code section 12276.1 further adds:

§ 12276.1. Further definition of "assault weapon"

(a) Notwithstanding Section 12276, "assault weapon" shall also mean any of the following:

(1) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:

(A) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.

(B) A thumbhole stock.

(C) A folding or telescoping stock.

(D) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.

(E) A flash suppressor.

(F) A forward pistol grip.

(2) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

(3) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.

(4) A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:

(A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.

(B) A second handgrip.

(C) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning his or her hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.

(D) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.

(5) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

(6) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:

(A) A folding or telescoping stock.

(B) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.

(7) A semiautomatic shotgun that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine.

(8) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.

(b) The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that are used for Olympic target shooting purposes at the time the act adding this subdivision is enacted, and that would otherwise fall within the definition of "assault weapon" pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subdivision (c).

(c) "Assault weapon" does not include either of the following:

(1) Any antique firearm.

(2) Any of the following pistols, because they are consistent with the significant public purpose expressed in subdivision (b):


MANUFACTURER MODEL CALIBER
BENELLI MP90 .22LR
BENELLI MP90 .32 S & W LONG
BENELLI MP95 .22LR
BENELLI MP95 .32 S & W LONG
HAMMERLI 280 .22LR
HAMMERLI 280 .32 S & W LONG
HAMMERLI SP20 .22LR
HAMMERLI SP20 .32 S & W LONG
PARDINI GPO .22 SHORT
PARDINI GP-SCHUMANN .22 SHORT
PARDINI HP .32 S & W LONG
PARDINI MP .32 S & W LONG
PARDINI SP .22LR
PARDINI SPE .22LR
WALTHER GSP .22LR
WALTHER GSP .32 S & W LONG
WALTHER OSP .22 SHORT
WALTHER OSP-2000 .22 SHORT



(3) The Department of Justice shall create a program that is consistent with the purposes stated in subdivision (b) to exempt new models of competitive pistols that would otherwise fall within the definition of "assault weapon" pursuant to this section from being classified as an assault weapon. The exempt competitive pistols may be based on recommendations by USA Shooting consistent with the regulations contained in the USA Shooting Official Rules or may be based on the recommendation or rules of any other organization that the department deems relevant.

(d) The following definitions shall apply under this section:

(1) "Magazine" shall mean any ammunition feeding device.

(2) "Capacity to accept more than 10 rounds" shall mean capable of accommodating more than 10 rounds, but shall not be construed to include a feeding device that has been permanently altered so that it cannot accommodate more than 10 rounds.

(3) "Antique firearm" means any firearm manufactured prior to January 1, 1899.

Any questions?

[Trailerpark Badass]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what EXACTLY is an assault weapon??

Basically, it's a semi-automatic rifle, which accepts a detachable magazine and has more than one of the following features:

a folding or telescoping stock;

a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;

a bayonet mount;

a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor;

and a grenade launcher.

There are similar restrictions on some semi-auto shotguns and some pistols.

[Wilhelm Tell]

Just The Facts (Mostly)

Please excuse my ignorance, but what EXACTLY is an assault weapon??

That is a very good question. One thing the politicians and media do is use confusing, scary-sounding terminology for any type of gun they want banned. Basically, politicians want everyone to think that semi-automatic firearms are machine-guns, which they are not.

With a machine-gun, you pull the trigger and the gun rapidly shoots bullets one right after the other until you let up on the trigger or the gun runs out of ammunition.

With a semi-automatic gun, you pull the trigger and the gun shoots ONE bullet. You pull the trigger a second time, and the gun shoots a SECOND bullet, etc. In other words, if you pulled the trigger and held it down, the gun would still only shoot one bullet -- unlike a machine-gun.

So the media use phrases such as "rapid-fire" and "it shoots as fast as you pull the trigger" to scare people. And the politicians take advantage of this confusion by convincing people that just about every firearm is a machine-gun.

Why would someone want to own a semi-automatic rifle instead of an old-fashioned bolt-action rifle? Well, it is easier to make a second aimed shot with a semi-auto rifle (even though it doesn't "spit bullets" like a machine-gun). With a bolt-action rifle, you have to pull or turn a lever to put a bullet in the firing-chamber, then you can pull the trigger, and then, before you can fire again, you have to pull or turn a lever again to put another cartridge in the firing-chamber, and so on. A semi-auto gun also allows you only one shot per trigger pull, but it does automatically put the next cartridge in the firing-chamber so you don't have to mess with a lever or anything before you can fire the next shot.

Some hunters like semi-autos because if they miss the target, they can more quickly make a second shot without having to take their eyes off the target and fumble with the gun. The mechanism of a semi-auto uses some of the recoil energy, so the shooter feels less recoil.

One thing that makes all this debate really seem silly is that someone very good with a bolt-action rifle can shoot well-aimed shots almost as fast as someone poorly-trained with a semi-auto rifle! Now, to be fair, someone well-trained with a semi-auto rifle will normally shoot quite a bit faster than someone well-trained with a bolt-action rifle. I think new (and not-so-new) technology is great but a lot still depends on how well-trained the shooter is -- and it always will. It is like people who wanted to ban cars by frightening people about automatic transmissions.

So those are the dry, technical details rather than the hysteria the media broadcasts. Every news report is slanted to make it sound like they are talking about machine-guns. Certain politicians know that if they can ban semi-automatic guns, then they can ban just about anything.

This does not mean there is anything wrong with owning a real machine-gun. Many houses in Switzerland have a machine-gun, and many people there, just like many Americans, have semi-auto rifles. They haven't had a crime or safety problem because of that. And the rifles the politicians want to ban are seldom used in crime, either. If politicians really wanted to save lives, they would do difficult things like making sure violent criminals didn't get released from prison early. Unfortunately, it easier to make sound-bites about guns and throw around scare-words.

[Dan from Michigan]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what EXACTLY is an assault weapon??

You know, that's a very good question.(Not sarcasm). To explain it as best I can.

1. Assault Weapons differ from Assault Rifles. Assault Rifles are legal with a class III license(most states allow them with BATF Tax). Assault Rifles are by military definition able to be fired full auto or semi auto.

2. Assault WEAPONS can vary depending on the state you are in. They may include 50+ year old M1 Garands in some states like Jersey. The US house dems are trying to redefine 'assault weapons' to include thouse. In California, they cover almost anything.

3. Certain cosmetic features are what define the current definition of 'assault weapon'. One thread showed a picture of two AR-15 clones. One was an 'assault weapon'. One wasn't. Flash suppressor, folding stock, or bayonet mount and pistol grips are three of the characteristics. I believe firearms with two of those are banned. The other definition is 11 round or higher magazines. 10 rounds is the limit.

Hopefully, I didn't confuse you even more. If I was king, my definition of an 'assault weapon' would be any weapon used by a person during an assault, including fist.

The simplist answer of an assault weapon - whatever the government defines as an assault weapon.