Also, the term “assault weapon” is weaselly, as it can mean just about anything.
“Assault Rifle,” on the other hand, is a very specific technical term that describes a firearm with select-fire capability. Those are not in common use in the US as they are heavily restricted via NFA 1934 and GOPA 1986.
Full-auto functionality is not a trifling feature. Sure, it’s not the best option most of the time, but if you have on your gun and don’t have the proper credentials, off to Club Fed with you. That’s kind of a big deal.
Full auto is a trifling feature... tactically. If you are not on a bipod or tripod or pintle mount, you are pretty much just wasting ammo and would do just as well semi.
And hobbiests dwell on terms like Assault Rifle, Assault weapon, etc.
Our side points out that a semi auto is not an assault rifle and smugly thinks we won something. The left is not bogged down in the name.
They want to ban any rifle that is a semiauto version of ANY military rifle. And they would love to ban all the others as well.
But the name means nothing of consequence.