A fake term that grows to encompass more.
In California it includes any typical semi auto handgun with a threaded barrel.
A handgun with a threaded barrel is an assault weapon.
In the future it may include any gun without microstamping or some other Orwellian measure imposed.
The antigun crowd is always emboldened to include more and more so even if you think you agree with some level of ban, know that each step means they are closer to banning other things.
All over the world they don't stop at scary rifles, it eventually is all semi autos, then all shotguns holding more than X number of rounds (3 is the current hunting restriction) and eventually you need a permit to own an airgun and they start restricting who can own those or how powerful it can be (12 foot pounds in england for a rifle and 6 for a handgun.)
Once they go after actions they don't like they go after power levels they don't like, overly concealable guns they don't like, etc
It also does not stop at guns, once a decent variety of guns are heavily restricted and require various licenses and red tape knives, swords, and other things become a bigger focus.
The UK, a place with a legal system very similar to our own, has banned things like inexpensive samurai swords and requires airsoft guns shooting plastic yellow pellets without enough energy to break skin to be transported in a locked container and the owner to have a 'license' in the form of being a member of an official club.
The only people that need these 'assault' weapons are every patrol officer in the country loaded and ready to go with multiple 30 round magazines, which is what most have. They are tasked with enforcing the whims of the politicians and need what is felt to be the best reasonable and affordable tool for the job. You can make do with a 1-2 shot shotgun with tracked ammunition that is stored unloaded, and you will be allowed a certain number of rounds a year. As long as you never voice the wrong thing, make any mistakes, jay walk or otherwise become prohibited under an increasing onslaught of prohibiting offenses designed to limit who even can legally have such a shotgun.
In California it includes any typical semi auto handgun with a threaded barrel.
A handgun with a threaded barrel is an assault weapon.
In the future it may include any gun without microstamping or some other Orwellian measure imposed.
The antigun crowd is always emboldened to include more and more so even if you think you agree with some level of ban, know that each step means they are closer to banning other things.
All over the world they don't stop at scary rifles, it eventually is all semi autos, then all shotguns holding more than X number of rounds (3 is the current hunting restriction) and eventually you need a permit to own an airgun and they start restricting who can own those or how powerful it can be (12 foot pounds in england for a rifle and 6 for a handgun.)
Once they go after actions they don't like they go after power levels they don't like, overly concealable guns they don't like, etc
It also does not stop at guns, once a decent variety of guns are heavily restricted and require various licenses and red tape knives, swords, and other things become a bigger focus.
The UK, a place with a legal system very similar to our own, has banned things like inexpensive samurai swords and requires airsoft guns shooting plastic yellow pellets without enough energy to break skin to be transported in a locked container and the owner to have a 'license' in the form of being a member of an official club.
The only people that need these 'assault' weapons are every patrol officer in the country loaded and ready to go with multiple 30 round magazines, which is what most have. They are tasked with enforcing the whims of the politicians and need what is felt to be the best reasonable and affordable tool for the job. You can make do with a 1-2 shot shotgun with tracked ammunition that is stored unloaded, and you will be allowed a certain number of rounds a year. As long as you never voice the wrong thing, make any mistakes, jay walk or otherwise become prohibited under an increasing onslaught of prohibiting offenses designed to limit who even can legally have such a shotgun.