Can we please stop saying "Assault Weapon"

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Gordon_Freeman said:
I like the term modern sporting rifles. It's simple and easy to remember.
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I don't like either of these terms, and I don't allow them to persist in any conversation I have about gun rights with an anti. They're just rifles--they may have somewhat different characteristics, but they're still just rifles. I don't like the idea of calling any rifles "sporting rifles" either, as well-intentioned as that may be, because it unintentionally reinforces the notion that sporting is the only legitimate use, as much of the population seems to believe.

Rifles are tools that can be used in a variety of ways, for both good and evil. How they are used is up to the individual who uses them, not the rifles themselves or any labels that we slap on them, and the evil purposes (e.g. murder) have all long been codified into law.
 
You would have better luck with getting folks to know what the difference is between a clip and a magazine. And NO.. a stripper clip is not a stag film.

Both gun owners and non gun owners are just as guilty. The new catch phrase.."Weapons of Mass Destruction".
 
Issac-1 said:
I personally hate the term "modern sporting rifle" I think it is a blatant lie, and everyone in the conversation knows it, it is as bad as or worse than assualt rifle just in the other direction. It is much like calling gang members, socially disadvantaged youths, it causes anyone that uses the term be immediately judged as petty and takes the focus off the real topics of the conversation. I have no problem with semi-auto rifle, clumping AR's in with Remington Speedmasters, but what I would personally prefer is a term that encompasses the modern AR / AK platforms, maybe something more neutral like Modern Modular Rifle, or Configurable Long Gun Platform to embrace the mix and match lego nature for these guns. As these are terms that we might be able to sell to the fence sitters.

Just ask yourself how many times have you had this conversations with some non gun person:

Q, What is this Modern Sporting Rifle the NRA is talking about?

A. It is the most popular class of semi atuo rifles being sold today and is used for all sorts of sporting and hunting purposes,........

Q, hum, I stil don't know what you mean

A. The AR-15 and AK-47 are popular examples of this class

Q, So its an assualt rifle?

A, Yeah, but we don't like to use that term we prefer modern sporting rifle (and they hear, yeah its an assualt rifle, but we would much prefer if you called it a fluffy cudly gun)
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I strongly disagree. Just because someone jumps to the conclusion that it is an assault rifle doesn't mean that it is. Your question and answer dialogue makes sense, right up until you presume that, because someone who knows nothing about guns calls it an assault rifle, it should be so.

Other "modern sporting rifles" could include the Ruger Mini 14, Ruger 10/22, or Browning BAR. Those are all relatively modern designs in the history of firearms, and those are all semi-automatic rifles. Those are NOT "assault weapons", even by the previously applied legal definition. An AR-15 and AK-47 are as different as they are similar (just like the Ruger 10/22 is as different as it is similar to each of those rifles), and you seem to be buying into the idea that these rifles are only useful for assaulting things.

What exactly qualifies a gun as an assault rifle to you?


An AR-15 has several modern advantages that makes it a great choice as one of the preeminent examples of a modern sporting rifles. None of these attributes are things that most people will ever use for combat or criminal purposes (they might do dual purpose in that role, but that isn't what most people buy them for). Allow me to explain some of the features that people like:

1) Durable finishes that stand up to hard use while hunting or playing in the field.

2) Reliable designs that function out-of-the-box without gunsmithing or other modifications

3) Modular designs that allow you to switch upper receivers easily for different purposes (a varmint upper for long range shooting, a 16" barrel for in-the-woods, a different caliber upper for hunting, etc).

4) Factory peep sights that are far easier for most shooters to acquire more easily than more conventional notch-and-blade sights.

5) Picatinny rails and accessory rails allow the user to add a variety of optics to a widely available and standard type of mount. This setup also allows optics to be switched out quite easily when compared with more historic designs.

6) multi-position telescoping stocks allow the rifle to easily fit me and my girlfriend for length of pull (she's much shorter, and likes the length of pull to be shorter).

7) Threaded barrels allow for the addition of recoil reducing muzzle brakes or hearing protecting sound suppressors.

8) Designs of these rifles readily accommodate the use of slings, bipods, and other accessories that some old designs don't allow for.

9) Pistol grip stocks are believed to be more ergonomic by some shooters (and arguable point)

10) These designs are capable of achieving ridiculous accuracy when compared to older guns.

11) Detachable magazines make it easier to load AND unload, switch types of ammo, deal with malfunctions, and keep shooting without fiddling with the action of the rifle.


So, there's a whole bunch of reasons why these MODERN SPORTING RIFLES are different than more historic designs. Not one of these reasons involves the ability of the rifle to assault anyone, though some have obviously used these rifles to do so (though not very often, statistically). Regardless, not one of those features suggests that the rifle would be used to assault someone. I sure didn't buy my AR-15 target rifle with the intention of assaulting anyone. Granted, my work rifle is used in a role where it may be tasked with shooting someone, but the same can be said for the 870 shotgun I carry at work, or the Glock with the 10-round magazine that I carry at work, or the bolt action rifles we field as sniper rifles. The role of the gun is determined by its end user, not by its design.


As such, please tell me: WHAT IS AN ASSAULT RIFLE?
 
I just want to clarify that, I am on our side, I own both an AR and an AK, along with various other rifles, I understand the difference between an AK-47, AK-74, AKM, etc. However drawing a fine distinction here when talking to the general public is just the very sort of thing that I see as a distraction from the core isssue, (they will see it as nitpicking) perhaps it might be better to have said something like a Semi-Auto AK-47, because saying a Rommy G AKM would just confuse any non gun person out there. As to this claim that the semi auto and full auto version of the AKM are two completely different rifles, lets be honest here, the semi auto version of the AKM (at least in the US) is a full auto version where one group of parts that controls cyclic rate has been removed, a hole was NOT drilled in the reviever and a small tab was cut off of the bolt assembly. Sure this changes the fuction of the gun to semi auto, and it would take some work to restore this function, but that does not make it a completely different gun. I will give you that in the case of the AR platform there are more machining differences between the semi and full auto versions.

The point I am trying to make is what we say and what people hear are not always the same thing, as can be illustrated by this you tube clip from a british comedy show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPJKGGhcXUM
 
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The only time I use "assault weapon" is when I engage an anti and attempt to show them:

A) It's a completely made-up term;
2) A ban on them is cosmetic (heh) and not a true solution to the problems of gun violence;
#) If they feel the need to "do someting!" to protect their children, buy car seats and use them, supervise their kids around water, or any elevated space or position, keep matches and lighters away from their kids, and make sure medicines and household cleaners are properly secured from their kids.
 
I always call it by name(AR-15, AKM copy) or semi auto rifle because, duh, that's what they are. I like the terms M4gery and A4gery too. They aren't "assault weapons" they are fakes. They look real but they're not! Speaking to the uninformed makes you want to scream. They scare the poor ignorant peasants the same way they scared them with WMD's in Iraq. Of course it wouldn't be so easy to do this but many of these fools weren't taught to think for themselves. If you've been over fed a steady diet of crap that's what you will regurgitate.
 
I get tired of them saying " AR" in AR-15 stands for Assault Rifle. UGH!!!!!!!!
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I always thought it stood for Armalite Rifle, or Automatic Rifle. I don't believe it stands for Assault Rifle, but am willing to be shown evidence to the contrary.

As for the term Assault Weapon, calling any semi-auto weapon by that term is comparable is playing into the hands of the Antis. Don't do it. Instead, educate the uninformed and misinformed as to the difference.
 
well since our own homeland security dept now calls them personal defense weapons (even though thiers are select fire) I think we should get used to calling our AR's, and AK's the same or PDW's jim
 
"Accurate" nomenclature has never been desirable by the libs and antis. They want to demonize anything they don't like. This is just the most recent battle.
 
I don't care for the term "assault rifle" either. When pressed, and if I care to, I will admit to owning "defense rifles".
I can not envision me personally ever using them in an assault role, I can envision using them in a defensive role if the unfortunate need arises.
Frankly I hope neither ever happens.
 
Kevin Rohrer said:
I always thought it stood for Armalite Rifle, or Automatic Rifle. I don't believe it stands for Assault Rifle, but am willing to be shown evidence to the contrary.

As for the term Assault Weapon, calling any semi-auto weapon by that term is comparable is playing into the hands of the Antis. Don't do it. Instead, educate the uninformed and misinformed as to the difference.
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It stands for Armalite Rifle, i think the guy you quoted agrees with you.
 
I call mine "EBR" (for Evil Black Rifle),

then I be sure to describe how I would not own one unless the evil simply oozes out of it onto the floor and mucks up the place with gallons and gallons of evil everywhere;)

When they think about it for a bit, they are usually de-fused.
 
how is an AK or AR a "modern" sporting gun when the AK is a 65 year old design and the AR is 45 year design??
 
Disfigured rifles?

I like to refer to my serf guns as castrati because they only get to sing single high notes, and with their original designed equipment permanently removed they will never know the satisfaction of the long low growl of a magazine dump in a brief second or two. Next to a manly baritone 40mm thump gun, their true inadequacy is evident to all but the most feminized anxiephiles so prominent in this Age of the Wimp. Perhaps our real problem is we can't buy scented pink bullets.
 
My take:

"Assault weapon" is a valid term for whatever implement or body part one uses to initiate an assault with intent to harm on another person or group of persons. Define the term that way, and no firearm owned by 99% of us will ever qualify. For that matter, the overwhelming majority of us will never commit an assault on another person with any sort of implement or body part.

But the non-thinking, anti-gun type of person will never allow for any definition other than that which the pregressive media feeds him or her, even if it is meaningless and vague.
 
It's a rifle. just a rifle, nothing more, nothing less. the best way to describe certain rifles are to describe it's action. i own 2 bolt action rifles and some semi-automatic rifles. that's the only important characteristic. whether it has detachable magazines, or bayonets is irrelevent to it's operation. so if one wishes to call it an "Assault weapon" then it only proves that they're lacking proper education on such things.
 
It's a rifle. just a rifle, nothing more, nothing less.
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If it has certain legally-defined cosmetic features, it's also an assault weapon whether you like it or not. Only education required is a knowledge of the law.
 
I don't like "assault rifle" as That implies being the aggressor. I also dislike "modern sporting rifle" because the 2nd amendment does not say "a well regulated sports team, being necessary to the entertainment of citizens, shall not be infringed." I just call 'em semiautomatic rifles, militia weapons, or fighting rifles, because that's ultimately what they are for.
 
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