Guy,
Having obtained three AKs & four ARs here in Utah over the years, they're just rifles as far as the state cares.
There's no additional paperwork or legal requirements anywhere in the state that I'm aware of.
Don't worry about terminology, just ask for an AK-47
The WASRs are entry level, usually functional, but sorta bottom of the barrel.
One on-line dealer that seems to have a good rep (you can order one & have it sent to a dealer near you) is Atlantic Firearms.
Another choice closer to home, up in Ogden, is Impact Guns. Both carry decent AKs.
If you're not already aware, the AK will not be quite as accurate as an AR, but it should be perfectly adequate for defense & hunting inside 100 yards, possibly 200 yards if you get a good one.
And, while not an across the board comparison that'd hold exactly true in every situation with every bullet & all barriers, I've tested 9mm ball & .223 ball in my penetration box with 20 one-inch pine board squares lined up. The 9mm ball travelled farther than the .223, both fired through 16-inch ARs at the same distance. The 9 kept on nose-first, the .223 tumbled & came to rest intact with the nose pointing back toward me.
Denis