You may own guns, but your statement is ignorant of the facts. Assault Rifles are machine guns, civilians in the US have been prohibited from buying any newly manufactured ones since 1986.
Not all machine guns are assault rifles, but assault rifles are by definition select-fire machine guns (burst or full auto), firing an intermediate cartridge, and of rifle-like design.
True machine guns like the M2, M240, M249 aren't assault rifles, nor are machine pistols.
We do need a new term for "military-style semi-automatic intermediate caliber rifles", but assault rifle is already used.
I'd suggest "black rifle" or "military-style rifle".
There isn't a consensus definition of "assault rifle".
Some laws or proposed laws say a pistol grip and box magazine == "assault rifle". Most gun people would call a rifle that looks like an M-16, AK-47 or FN an assault rifle.
No private citizen can buy a machine gun today.
The dirty secret of the whole gun control thing is that most of the issues associated with people stockpiling weapons and smuggling pistols were dealt with in 1934 via an excise tax.
Basically, any short rifle and some pistols were subject to a $200 tax ($3400 today). Instead of blanket bans, the law defined classes of weapons and taxed them out of the market.
"There isn't a consensus definition of "assault rifle"."
Actually there is. What there isn't a consensus on is "Assault Weapons," which are different. "Assault Rifles" are illegal to own for US citizens, but "Assault Weapons" are not. They are two different things.
You can not buy a _new_ machine gun. The ones already registered are just like any other NFA item and can be transferred to anyone willing to pay the $200 tax.
Private citizens can import/manufacture machine guns provided they are properly licensed. These can't be sold to other private citizens however.
wmeredith|13 years ago
rdl|13 years ago
True machine guns like the M2, M240, M249 aren't assault rifles, nor are machine pistols.
We do need a new term for "military-style semi-automatic intermediate caliber rifles", but assault rifle is already used.
I'd suggest "black rifle" or "military-style rifle".
msandford|13 years ago
Spooky23|13 years ago
Some laws or proposed laws say a pistol grip and box magazine == "assault rifle". Most gun people would call a rifle that looks like an M-16, AK-47 or FN an assault rifle.
No private citizen can buy a machine gun today.
The dirty secret of the whole gun control thing is that most of the issues associated with people stockpiling weapons and smuggling pistols were dealt with in 1934 via an excise tax.
Basically, any short rifle and some pistols were subject to a $200 tax ($3400 today). Instead of blanket bans, the law defined classes of weapons and taxed them out of the market.
philwelch|13 years ago
There was, until people who don't know anything about firearms tried redefining the word for political reasons.
In any case, the only AR-15s and AK/FN variants you can legally buy today are in no way more dangerous than an ordinary semiautomatic rifle.
astine|13 years ago
Actually there is. What there isn't a consensus on is "Assault Weapons," which are different. "Assault Rifles" are illegal to own for US citizens, but "Assault Weapons" are not. They are two different things.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_rifle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_weapon
oldcigarette|13 years ago
You can not buy a _new_ machine gun. The ones already registered are just like any other NFA item and can be transferred to anyone willing to pay the $200 tax.
Private citizens can import/manufacture machine guns provided they are properly licensed. These can't be sold to other private citizens however.