I've never quite understood the usefulness of the 'assault weapon' rhetoric. Basically any semi-auto firearm with the ability to take a detachable magazine is

I've never quite understood the usefulness of the 'assault weapon' rhetoric. Basically any semi-auto firearm with the ability to take a detachable magazine is easily capable of causing mass murder. Either ban pretty much all semi-autos or you're wasting your time. It's like fighting diabetes by banning Coke but ignoring Pepsi. But even in this New Zealand situation, where they are doing it 'right' and are banning them all, they still trumpet it as a ban on 'military style assault weapons'. I guess if they change the definition of 'military style' to include most semi-autos it would be more rational, and it does seem like the media is heading that way.