Heavens no, I don't think the AWB is in any way rational! All I was trying to say was that the gun grabbers didn't like semi-automatic rifles that look like assault rifles, but couldn't define anything about them that was any different functionally than the "less evil" hunting rifle.
Semi-auto operation? Nope, "legit" hunting rifles are in semi-auto as well. Caliber? Nope, there are sporting rifles in each of the popular calibers. Detachable Magazine? Nope, many sporting rifles have detachable magazines. So the only thing left were flash suppressors, bayonet lugs, etc. to distinguish the "hated" guns from the "barely tolerated - for now" guns.
How many people have been murdered by a flash supressor?
That's why the proposed law reduces the number of bad features from two to one, along with a removable magazine. However it defines "pistol grip" in such a way as to include most any stock. So the law would effectively ban all semi-autos with removable magazines.