4 ms·

A specific compact form-factor and multiple rounds in a magazine that allow for more rapid fire than a bolt action rifle? I know people claim "hunting" with th

A specific compact form-factor and multiple rounds in a magazine that allow for more rapid fire than a bolt action rifle? I know people claim "hunting" with these rifles, but I think there's a shiny toy thing at play more than utility.

blisterpeanuts 6y ago
No, you're describing a semi-automatic weapon, which requires a separate trigger pull for each shot. Fully automatic allows multiple shots with one pull of the trigger.
- detaro 6y ago
  I don't see how this addresses anything in the parent comment? Are you trying to say they can't define assault weapons as including semi-automatics?
  - blisterpeanuts 6y ago
    Yes, assault weapons are a different category, legally and technically, from semi-automatic weapons which are the majority of firearms manufactured and sold today in the U.S. The anti-gun lobby has conflated the terms to push a blanket ban on anything that looks remotely military. But functionally, it's two separate categories and fully automatic weapons require a federal permit that takes about a year.
    - detaro 6y ago
      If you think that's the definition, why not clearly say that instead of playing this "let others guess what your definition is" game? > Yes, assault weapons are a different category, legally and technically, from semi-automatic weapons What's the clear legal definition of an assault weapon? E.g. as referenced elsewhere in the comments here, the federal assault weapons ban clearly talked about "semi-automatic assault weapons", suggesting the legal definition was not so clearly "only full-automatics"?
      - blisterpeanuts 6y ago
        I think I did clearly say that; what's unclear? The federal assault ban covers fully automatic weapons, not semi-automatic. Here's a pretty good explanation of the differences. https://www.politifact.com/article/2017/oct/02/difference-between-automatic-and-semi-automatic-we/ https://www.politifact.com/article/2017/oct/02/difference-be...
        detaro 6y ago
        From what I understand, you claim there is a clear legal category of "assault weapon" you base the definition on. So where is that defined? Your link only talks about fully- vs semi-automatic, the NFA linked from there doesn't use the term, ... Whereas past laws that used the term clearly considered it not to be fully-automatic only. E.g. the law that's commonly known as the "Federal Assault Weapons Ban" (1994-2008) literally regulated "semiautomatic assault weapons", a category which doesn't make any sense if you insist that assault weapons always are fully-automatic. So what's changed that you now can insist that including semi-automatics doesn't make sense? I won't claim I know all relevant legislation, but it seems pretty obvious that not that long ago, it wasn't as clear-cut as you present it.
        blisterpeanuts 6y ago
        You can read the exact definitions here, if you have the patience to wade through a military document. https://www.dia.mil/FOIA/FOIA-Electronic-Reading-Room/FOIA-Reading-Room-Other-Available-Records/FileId/64737/ https://www.dia.mil/FOIA/FOIA-Electronic-Reading-Room/FOIA-R... Certain military-grade rifles that are semi-auto but can also be made to fire fully auto are classified as assault weapons, officially and militarily speaking. Civilian anti-gun activists just call anything "assault" that even looks kind of military, like a black AR-15 that might only fire .22 bullets, one at a time. By the way a .22 bullet might not stop a man unless it's a heart hit; this is why police (and bad guys) tend to use .45 or other larger caliber weapons. A .22 is quieter, less kick, cheaper ammo, and is good for killing rabbits.
        stale2002 6y ago
refurb 6y ago
An Ar-15 is no more compact than a hunting rifle. Barrel length is restricted by law. And every gun I’ve seen with a detachable magazine comes in a variety of sizes. Hell. A Ruger 22 rifle accepts a 100 round magazine. Is that an assault rifle?
- jordanbeiber 6y ago
  The Ruger 10/22 rifle with a pistol grip and a folding stock was classified as an assault weapon under the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_weapon https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_weapon The AR 15s come in various configurations and are quite modular from what I gather. Collapsible stocks and vertical front handles etc. Clearly originally made for use cases that differ from hunting animals. They look cool though!

blisterpeanuts 6y ago

No, you're describing a semi-automatic weapon, which requires a separate trigger pull for each shot. Fully automatic allows multiple shots with one pull of the trigger.

detaro 6y ago
I don't see how this addresses anything in the parent comment? Are you trying to say they can't define assault weapons as including semi-automatics?
- blisterpeanuts 6y ago
  Yes, assault weapons are a different category, legally and technically, from semi-automatic weapons which are the majority of firearms manufactured and sold today in the U.S. The anti-gun lobby has conflated the terms to push a blanket ban on anything that looks remotely military. But functionally, it's two separate categories and fully automatic weapons require a federal permit that takes about a year.
  - detaro 6y ago
    If you think that's the definition, why not clearly say that instead of playing this "let others guess what your definition is" game? > Yes, assault weapons are a different category, legally and technically, from semi-automatic weapons What's the clear legal definition of an assault weapon? E.g. as referenced elsewhere in the comments here, the federal assault weapons ban clearly talked about "semi-automatic assault weapons", suggesting the legal definition was not so clearly "only full-automatics"?
    - blisterpeanuts 6y ago
      I think I did clearly say that; what's unclear? The federal assault ban covers fully automatic weapons, not semi-automatic. Here's a pretty good explanation of the differences. https://www.politifact.com/article/2017/oct/02/difference-between-automatic-and-semi-automatic-we/ https://www.politifact.com/article/2017/oct/02/difference-be...
      - detaro 6y ago
        From what I understand, you claim there is a clear legal category of "assault weapon" you base the definition on. So where is that defined? Your link only talks about fully- vs semi-automatic, the NFA linked from there doesn't use the term, ... Whereas past laws that used the term clearly considered it not to be fully-automatic only. E.g. the law that's commonly known as the "Federal Assault Weapons Ban" (1994-2008) literally regulated "semiautomatic assault weapons", a category which doesn't make any sense if you insist that assault weapons always are fully-automatic. So what's changed that you now can insist that including semi-automatics doesn't make sense? I won't claim I know all relevant legislation, but it seems pretty obvious that not that long ago, it wasn't as clear-cut as you present it.
        blisterpeanuts 6y ago
        You can read the exact definitions here, if you have the patience to wade through a military document. https://www.dia.mil/FOIA/FOIA-Electronic-Reading-Room/FOIA-Reading-Room-Other-Available-Records/FileId/64737/ https://www.dia.mil/FOIA/FOIA-Electronic-Reading-Room/FOIA-R... Certain military-grade rifles that are semi-auto but can also be made to fire fully auto are classified as assault weapons, officially and militarily speaking. Civilian anti-gun activists just call anything "assault" that even looks kind of military, like a black AR-15 that might only fire .22 bullets, one at a time. By the way a .22 bullet might not stop a man unless it's a heart hit; this is why police (and bad guys) tend to use .45 or other larger caliber weapons. A .22 is quieter, less kick, cheaper ammo, and is good for killing rabbits.
        stale2002 6y ago

refurb 6y ago

An Ar-15 is no more compact than a hunting rifle. Barrel length is restricted by law. And every gun I’ve seen with a detachable magazine comes in a variety of sizes. Hell. A Ruger 22 rifle accepts a 100 round magazine. Is that an assault rifle?

jordanbeiber 6y ago
The Ruger 10/22 rifle with a pistol grip and a folding stock was classified as an assault weapon under the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_weapon https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_weapon The AR 15s come in various configurations and are quite modular from what I gather. Collapsible stocks and vertical front handles etc. Clearly originally made for use cases that differ from hunting animals. They look cool though!