4 ms·

"Assault Rifle" is a defined term as well which is basically the same as "machine gun". Both require the weapon to be "select fire" which means it can be set to

"Assault Rifle" is a defined term as well which is basically the same as "machine gun". Both require the weapon to be "select fire" which means it can be set to fire more than one round per trigger pull. An AR-15 is neither an Assault Rifle nor a Machine Gun. In actuality, an AR-15 is the same as any other semi-automatic rifle in function. It just looks scarier so it's treated different than others. For example, many states list the AR-15 as an "assault weapon" (made up term with no concrete definition) but don't list the Mini-14. They both fire the same round, accept the same magazines, and have the same rate of fire but the Mini-14 typically has a wooden stock which makes it "less scary" to people. I hate that I have to be a stickler for defined terms, but on the topic of guns there is so much misinformation out there that us gun people try to correct it whenever we can.

deleted 10y ago
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dragonwriter 10y ago
> "Assault Rifle" is a defined term as well which is basically the same as "machine gun". The usual definition is quite distinct from the usual definition of machine gun. > Both require the weapon to be "select fire" which means it can be set to fire more than one round per trigger pull. Actually, no; the term is "selective fire", and while that's part of the usual definition of an assault rifle (which typically have semiautomatic, burst, and sometimes full-auto modes), it's not for machine gun, and machine guns are quite often full-auto only. An assault rifle also is a weapons that is deisgned to be fired unsupported (though it may also integrate a bipod) and which has a fixed, folding, or telescoping butt stock. While a machine gun may have none of those things, and may be designed to be fired only mounted. > In actuality, an AR-15 is the same as any other semi-automatic rifle in function. AR-15 is problematic to categorize, since the original Armalite AR-15 is a selective-fire traditional assault rifle, and other rifles to which that moniker is applied (which is sometimes used as a catch-all for the whole family of variants of that original design, which the US military adopted as the M16 series, and the M4 series) may either also be selective-fire assault rifles or civilian variants of the same design with variations in a few key components that render them semi-auto only. At the same time, Colt currently markets a subset of it's line of civilian semi-automatic variations of that design as the AR-15 line (which was done after the Federal Assault Weapons ban specifically to take advantage of the AR-15 moniker's association with assault weapons.) > For example, many states list the AR-15 as an "assault weapon" (made up term with no concrete definition) Every state that has an "assault weapons" law also gives it concrete definitions. Typically, that's done by identifying both feature sets and a set of named existing weapons which are included (along with any copies or duplicates) regardless of whether they meet the feature sets.
- tomschlick 10y ago
  Agreed on all points. I just tried to keep my response concise for the "non gun people" here. And for the last point I know states have defined the term individually. However the ATF has never issued a letter defining "assault weapon" like they have for other grey area weapon classifications. So it's just a hodgepodge of messy rules random states have (mostly based on cosmetic features).
  - dragonwriter 10y ago
    I don't know anyone who has ever used a firearm who, outside of the context of political debate on gun control, would describe butt stocks, pistol grips, foregrips, attachment points for accessories, grenade or flare launchers, or detachable box magazines (which are many of the typical features used in determining "assault weapons") as cosmetic features rather than ones with a substantial impact on use and function.

deleted 10y ago

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dragonwriter 10y ago

> "Assault Rifle" is a defined term as well which is basically the same as "machine gun". The usual definition is quite distinct from the usual definition of machine gun. > Both require the weapon to be "select fire" which means it can be set to fire more than one round per trigger pull. Actually, no; the term is "selective fire", and while that's part of the usual definition of an assault rifle (which typically have semiautomatic, burst, and sometimes full-auto modes), it's not for machine gun, and machine guns are quite often full-auto only. An assault rifle also is a weapons that is deisgned to be fired unsupported (though it may also integrate a bipod) and which has a fixed, folding, or telescoping butt stock. While a machine gun may have none of those things, and may be designed to be fired only mounted. > In actuality, an AR-15 is the same as any other semi-automatic rifle in function. AR-15 is problematic to categorize, since the original Armalite AR-15 is a selective-fire traditional assault rifle, and other rifles to which that moniker is applied (which is sometimes used as a catch-all for the whole family of variants of that original design, which the US military adopted as the M16 series, and the M4 series) may either also be selective-fire assault rifles or civilian variants of the same design with variations in a few key components that render them semi-auto only. At the same time, Colt currently markets a subset of it's line of civilian semi-automatic variations of that design as the AR-15 line (which was done after the Federal Assault Weapons ban specifically to take advantage of the AR-15 moniker's association with assault weapons.) > For example, many states list the AR-15 as an "assault weapon" (made up term with no concrete definition) Every state that has an "assault weapons" law also gives it concrete definitions. Typically, that's done by identifying both feature sets and a set of named existing weapons which are included (along with any copies or duplicates) regardless of whether they meet the feature sets.

tomschlick 10y ago
Agreed on all points. I just tried to keep my response concise for the "non gun people" here. And for the last point I know states have defined the term individually. However the ATF has never issued a letter defining "assault weapon" like they have for other grey area weapon classifications. So it's just a hodgepodge of messy rules random states have (mostly based on cosmetic features).
- dragonwriter 10y ago
  I don't know anyone who has ever used a firearm who, outside of the context of political debate on gun control, would describe butt stocks, pistol grips, foregrips, attachment points for accessories, grenade or flare launchers, or detachable box magazines (which are many of the typical features used in determining "assault weapons") as cosmetic features rather than ones with a substantial impact on use and function.