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An assault weapon is a rapid-fire, magazine-fed rifle designed for military use. It is a shoulder-fired weapon that allows the shooter to select between semiautomatic (requiring you pull the trigger for each shot), fully automatic (hold the trigger and the gun continuously fires) or three-shot-burst mode.
(added by OP - AND NOT LEGAL FOR CIVILIANS)
What is an "assault rifle?"
Technically, there is no such thing. What’s called an assault rifle in reports on gun violence is actually a semi-automatic rifle that looks similar to the assault weapons used by the military. An AR-15 rifle, like one that has been used in some mass shootings, is an example of this type of weapon. According to law enforcement authorities, the shooter in Sunday's attack used a Sig Sauer MCX.
What’s the difference between a semi-automatic and an automatic weapon?
An automatic weapon (assault weapon) can shoot more than one round when you pull the trigger. A semi-automatic weapon (“assault rifle”) does not.
Automatic weapons have not been used in recent mass shootings. In the shootings in Orlando, New Town, Ct., and San Bernardino, semi-automatic weapons, one requiring you to pull the trigger each time to fire a cartridge, were the weapons used."
The weapon used in some of those shootings was an AR-15. Doesn’t “AR” stand for “automatic rifle”?
No, “AR” in the gun’s name stands for ArmaLite Rifle. That is the company that first developed the weapon nearly 60 years ago.
Glad this got posted. Let's see how long it takes people to come in and try to refute the legal definition of the rifle. If it looks like an assault rifle it must be one, correct?
The biggest trouble with people who don't know guns: They make snap judgements about the lethality of a gun based on how it looks. If it looks like it's military issue, they assume it's more deadly. And all of them would take one look at the semi-auto pictured above and say, "That's an assault rifle!!"
To be fair: word is it's the magazine capacity that's the problem. I'm NO fan of banning them but; a semi auto with a 15 round clip CAN do a LOT of damage IF the shooter knows what he's doing.
To be fair: word is it's the magazine capacity that's the problem. I'm NO fan of banning them but; a semi auto with a 15 round clip CAN do a LOT of damage IF the shooter knows what he's doing.
This is a common misconception, typically by non-shooters.
The video covers all sorts of different scenarios, with 20 round magazines, 10, 6, etc. Timings are included, as are people rushing the shooter as fast as they can after waiting for a reload.
It also covers male vs female shooters, competitive vs casual.
Spoiler alert: magazine bans have very little effect on safety. It's wishful thinking, unfortunately. Us shooters know how ineffective a magazine ban would be, but this video is nice for those without real-world firearm experience.
To be fair: word is it's the magazine capacity that's the problem. I'm NO fan of banning them but; a semi auto with a 15 round clip CAN do a LOT of damage IF the shooter knows what he's doing.
A pocket full of speed loaders can also do a LOT of damage!
Some folks, with practice can reload in under 3 seconds.
Speed loaders or mags can be built at home by a fairly competent person!
How will you ban them?
A pocket full of speed loaders can also do a LOT of damage!
Some folks, with practice can reload in under 3 seconds.
Speed loaders or mags can be built at home by a fairly competent person!
How will you ban them?
I said I was NO fan of banning high capacity semi autos. Sheesh!
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