What is an assult rifle?

As stated above, CT has an AWB in place. It lists several weapons by name and configurations. The definition of assault weapon however is very fluid. If it's black, has a pistol grip and shoots anything the media calls it an assault weapon. Technically based on the '94 Federal AWB there were only 19 guns and a couple criteria applied to semiautomatic rifles such as pistol grip, detachable magazine, bayonet lug, flash suppressor, threaded barrel, and folding stock.

It is a term invented by gun grabbers to describe any kind of firearm they choose to. It sounds menacing to people ignorant of the facts.

Definitions are loose. Anway, criminological research demonstrated the AWB in the USA had no effect on any crime indices.

An assault rifle is a select-fire, intermediate cartridge rifle with a pistol grip. "Assault weapon" is a term meaning "evil-looking gun."

Even Bill "B-job" Clinton said he later regretted pushing it because it didn't reduce crime and helped give control of the Senate and House to the Republicans. Even Feinstein acknowledged that it had no effect on crime, but helped to "dry up supply and drive up prices" for firearms affected by the legislation.

so if I'm reading this right...

there was already a (state) law that banned the AR used in the Sandy Hook shooting.

You have to first understand that "Assault Rifle" has a real definition set forth by the military, while "Assault Weapon" is a rather ambiguous term that can basically include whatever our congresscritters decide it should.

"Assualt rifle" has the very specific definition of a rifle or carbine chambered in an intermediate cartridge and capable of selective fire.

"Assualt weapon" had a definition under the '94 ban that included any semi-automatic firearms with certain, mostly cosmetic featueres. It was arbitrary, and the only effect it actually had was increasing the prices on grandfathered "pre-ban" items.

Also, I have a friend on FB that posted: "Would someone please tell me why I should have the right to buy an assult weapon"? How would you respond to that question?

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Because our constitutionally protected right is NOT about hunting or target practice. It is about defense, and specifically defense from a tyrannical government. It was intended to keep citizens armed on par with military. It's already been severely eroded, leaving us with only neutered small arms to go up against tanks, attack helicopters and laser-guided missiles.

It is a term invented by gun grabbers to describe any kind of firearm they choose to.

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No, it's not.

An "assault RIFLE" is an established term used to define any firearm with the following characteristics:

• short
• easily handled
• chambered for an "intermediate cartridge" (7.92x33mm, 7.62x39mm, 5.56x45mm, etc.)
• capable of full automatic fire

Examples include:

• MP-43/MP-44/StG-44,
• AK-47
• AKM
• M-16
• M-4

The term "assault WEAPON" has no fixed meaning and is merely a term of opprobrium used by those in favor of an absolute government monopoly on the means of armed force, to refer to whatever firearm they're trying to ban at any given moment.

Because our constitutionally protected right is NOT about hunting or target practice. It is about defense, and specifically defense from a tyrannical government. It was intended to keep citizens armed on par with military.

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This.

Sometimes even I am too quick to answer about how AR's can be used for hunting or sporting like 3 gun. More often now I am being blunt, the real reason the second amendment exists and "assault weapons" should be legally owned is because our forefathers knew the dangers of a government that can get out of control, and that someday, they may again need to fight against their government.

I know what a rifle is. My problem was reading comprehension, I read the question as "What is an assault weapon" instead of "assult rifle (sic)"

An assault rifle is a select-fire, intermediate cartridge rifle with a pistol grip.

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It doesn't HAVE to have a pistol grip, although most do.

A Chinese Type 63 meets any reasonable definition of an "assault rifle", but has a conventional stock:

Chinese Type 63 Assault Rifle

To the OP's questions, hopefully I provide some useful information in addition to what has been already supplied.

The Germans invented the Assault Rifle type and definition in the later part of WWII their Stg-44 Sturmgewehr was the first example of an assault rifle in reasonably wide spread use by an army. Sturm means "Storm" as in "Storm the castle" and gewehr means rifle. The intermediate power cartridge it fires is a 7.92 X 33. This is just their already in service 7.92 X 57 cut down and filled with less powder. The lower power and weight of the round allowed the weapon to be more controlable on full auto fire and allowed each soldier to carry more ammo.
The Soviets quickly copied this idea with the post-war AK-47 which fires the 7.62 X 39 (their standard service cartridge had been 7.62 X 54R. They may have been developing this idea independently but I'll let the experts duke that out. I don't think those details alter this discussion very much).

As others have stated Assault Weapon is much less well defined. It pretty much means whatever the writer/speaker/reporter wants it to mean. In general assault weapons are semi-auto weapons that have the same general layout and features, except for full auto, as weapons designed for military or SWAT team use.

As far as discussing the issue with you FB friend you may want to try showing him pictures of 22lr AR clone and a 30-06 Remington semi-auto hunting rifle. Point out that the pretty walnut and blued steel deer gun is much more deadly than the evil looking assault weapon. The differences between assault weapons and non-assault weapons are primarily cosmetic. I can paint my car to look like Richard Petty's but it isn't Richard Petty's and as long as I obey the traffic laws I should be allowed to paint my car any color I wish.

Good Luck.

Dan

The term "assault WEAPON" has no fixed meaning

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I think we all know what is meant by the term, and if you don't just refer to the federal definition. An assault weapon as defined by the government was a shoulder fired weapon, capable of accepting a detachable magazine, that had several of the following features: pistol grip, bayonet lug, flash hider.

SSN Vet said:

so if I'm reading this right...

there was already a (state) law that banned the AR used in the Sandy Hook shooting.

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That is correct. There were several CT laws violated before the first shot was fired. At the end of the day, nothing lawful took place before (or obviously during) this horrible episode. The perpetrator commited murder to obtain those guns presumably...he killed his mother with one and then took the others...apparently leaving some behind. So the perpetrator had already commited about 100 crimes when he walked across the threashold of his house out into the city.

That's what a lot of people have got to realize...there was NOTHING lawful here. In essence, due to state law, the guns the perpetrator used were banned...from his use and possession anyway...not sure about the rifle but I suspect one has to be 21 in CT to possess a handgun...and have a permit etc.

The whole thing was illegal from the get go...but happened anyway. Gun laws may or may not have a use in society...there are divergent opinions on that among gun owners...but the fact that is always present is that laws only apply to the law-abiding.

so if I'm reading this right...

there was already a (state) law that banned the AR used in the Sandy Hook shooting.

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No, Connecticut has an AWB, it mainly differs from the AWB in most blue states in that magazine capacity is not restricted.

The Bushmaster carbine used would have been a "compliant" version lacking several "evil" features and legally purchased in the state. That's why the politicians' response to this is scary -- if they haven't been able to ban black ugly guns by features so far, they may try harder and write a law that bans autoloaders.

What deanimator said.

"Assault Rifle" is a technical military term referring to a specific class of weapons, which includes (at its root) chambered in an intermediate cartridge and capable of full auto.

"Assault Weapon" is a gun control term which basically applies whatever regulations the legislators want. It can include functional changes, like a "high capacity magazine" (as defined by legislation) or it can include things that "look scary".

Bob2222 said:

No, Connecticut has an AWB, it mainly differs from the AWB in most blue states in that magazine capacity is not restricted.

The Bushmaster carbine used would have been a "compliant" version lacking several "evil" features and legally purchased in the state. That's why the politicians' response to this is scary -- if they haven't been able to ban black ugly guns by features so far, they may try harder and write a law that bans autoloaders.

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"Bushmaster Auto Rifle" is a named item on the ban. This is section 1.. section 2 is the "features" section of law which you describe that bans weapons by combination of "features".

The popular definition(s), especially in the media, of an "Assault Rifle" is essentially an Alice-in-Wonderland subjective one - whatever the holder of the opinion wants it to be. Up here in the Frozen North, you can tote a vz 58 chambered in either 5.56 NATO or 7.62 Soviet in the hunting fields, because it's subjectively considered "Non-Restricted", but not an AR-15 because it is "Restricted". No substantive difference between the two, just looks. And the AK is "Prohibited"; once again, "looks". And up here, there were never any bans on bayonet lugs or flash suppressors. Hunting moose or elk with an M-14S or M1A - especially in bear country - while not necessarily to be recommended, is perfectly legal and unrestricted.

This is sort of like the media definition of "Sniper" back in the '80's and '90's. So much as some guy standing on a street corner shooting a handgun at cops arriving at a convenience store hold-up, was often enough to be deemed a "Sniper" on the television and in the newspaper. Fear-mongering.

Double tap

SSN Vet said:

so if I'm reading this right...

there was already a (state) law that banned the AR used in the Sandy Hook shooting.

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Yes because we all know that if there is no flash hider, bayonet lug, and the stock is pinned at a fixed length it hurts much less when you shoot someone.
Where is the sarcasm smiley when you need it?

ErieLurker said:

The popular definition(s), especially in the media, of an "Assault Rifle" is essentially an Alice-in-Wonderland subjective one - whatever the holder of the opinion wants it to be. Up here in the Frozen North, you can tote a vz 58 chambered in either 5.56 NATO or 7.62 Soviet in the hunting fields, because it's subjectively considered "Non-Restricted", but not an AR-15 because it is "Restricted". No substantive difference between the two, just looks. And the AK is "Prohibited"; once again, "looks". And up here, there were never any bans on bayonet lugs or flash suppressors. Hunting moose or elk with an M-14S or M1A - especially in bear country - while not necessarily to be recommended, is perfectly legal and unrestricted.

This is sort of like the media definition of "Sniper" back in the '80's and '90's. So much as some guy standing on a street corner shooting a handgun at cops arriving at a convenience store hold-up, was often enough to be deemed a "Sniper" on the television and in the newspaper. Fear-mongering.

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Let's not forget that the Tavor, Swiss Arms Black, Robinson Arms XCR, SKS are also non restricted.
Make stupid laws, win stupid prizes.

thump rrr wrote:

Let's not forget that the Tavor, Swiss Arms Black, Robinson Arms XCR, SKS are also non restricted.
Make stupid laws, win stupid prizes.

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Too true.