jfh
Member.
I received an e-mail from GunBroker a few minutes ago, highlighting the sales / importer refund deals on the FS2000, PS90, and the FNAR. In the sidebar was this little essay.
(Emphasis added by poster.)
How much discussion these points need is moot for this group of readers, I think. I put it up because I routinely see the misuse of the term "assault weapon", not to mention the term assault rifle. As gunnies, we should not lose sight of the fact that the term "assault weapon" is nothing more than a political term. It was coined by the antigun forces--specifically, Josh Sugarman of the VPC, about 1988--and used by the various antigun advocacy groups to confuse the public about the nature of firearms they wanted to ban--and, in some sense, did so in the 1994 AWB.
As some of you know, the current use of 'assault weapon' by gunnies is fairly common--I see it here in discussions all the time. And, I also see many semiauto EBR-type rifles called "assault rifles"--and that is incorrect; see any version of the firearms lexicon. Personally, I suspect that is because, for many of you now, the AW / AR term has legitimacy for your EBR simply because it's been there for you all of your (gun-)conscious life or before, in political discussions. These terms weren't--Assault Rifles were defined in history by the Germans in the '40, and AFAIK, the first use of Assault Weapons by the MSM was in the reporting of the Luby Cafeteria massacre, in 1991. Some of us remember it well, for it really set off the 'modern' run at Political Gun Control.
Whether or not you want to refer to AR-15-type firearms as MSRs--Modern Sporting Rifles--is up to the you. Personally, I like using the term EBR, or simply the correct name--AR-15 or AK-74, for example. Call it what you will--but the NSSF screed here should serve as a reminder to be knowledgeable and vigilant about our culture and our history.
Jim H.
Updating AR-15's Image
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is trying to rebuild the image of the AR-15 rifle and you can help. The NSSF has coined the term Modern Sporting Rifle to more accurately describe the AR-15 platform and is asking that shooters do the same.
The NSSF asks you to be an informed gun owner and to use the following facts to correct misconceptions about these rifles. If AR-15-style modern sporting rifles are banned, your favorite traditional-looking hunting or target shooting semi-automatic firearm could be banned, too.
´ AR-15-platform rifles are among the most popular firearms being sold. They are today's modern sporting rifle.
´ The AR in "AR-15" rifle stands for Armalite rifle, after the company that developed it in the 1950s. "AR" does NOT stand for "assault rifle" or "automatic rifle."
´ AR-15-style rifles are NOT "assault weapons" or "assault rifles." An assault rifle is fully automatic -- a machine gun. Automatic firearms have been severely restricted from civilian ownership since 1934.
´ AR-15-style rifles look like military rifles, such as the M-16, but function like other semi-automatic civilian sporting firearms, firing only one round with each pull of the trigger.
´ Versions of modern sporting rifles are legal to own in all 50 states, provided the purchaser passes the mandatory FBI background check required for all retail firearm purchasers.
´ Since the 19th century, civilian sporting rifles have evolved from their military predecessors. The modern sporting rifle simply follows that tradition.
´ AR-15-style rifles are no more powerful than other hunting rifles of the same caliber and in most cases are chambered in calibers less powerful than common big-game hunting cartridges like the 30-06 Springfield and .300 Win. Mag.
´ And, they are a lot of fun to shoot!
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is trying to rebuild the image of the AR-15 rifle and you can help. The NSSF has coined the term Modern Sporting Rifle to more accurately describe the AR-15 platform and is asking that shooters do the same.
The NSSF asks you to be an informed gun owner and to use the following facts to correct misconceptions about these rifles. If AR-15-style modern sporting rifles are banned, your favorite traditional-looking hunting or target shooting semi-automatic firearm could be banned, too.
´ AR-15-platform rifles are among the most popular firearms being sold. They are today's modern sporting rifle.
´ The AR in "AR-15" rifle stands for Armalite rifle, after the company that developed it in the 1950s. "AR" does NOT stand for "assault rifle" or "automatic rifle."
´ AR-15-style rifles are NOT "assault weapons" or "assault rifles." An assault rifle is fully automatic -- a machine gun. Automatic firearms have been severely restricted from civilian ownership since 1934.
´ AR-15-style rifles look like military rifles, such as the M-16, but function like other semi-automatic civilian sporting firearms, firing only one round with each pull of the trigger.
´ Versions of modern sporting rifles are legal to own in all 50 states, provided the purchaser passes the mandatory FBI background check required for all retail firearm purchasers.
´ Since the 19th century, civilian sporting rifles have evolved from their military predecessors. The modern sporting rifle simply follows that tradition.
´ AR-15-style rifles are no more powerful than other hunting rifles of the same caliber and in most cases are chambered in calibers less powerful than common big-game hunting cartridges like the 30-06 Springfield and .300 Win. Mag.
´ And, they are a lot of fun to shoot!
(Emphasis added by poster.)
How much discussion these points need is moot for this group of readers, I think. I put it up because I routinely see the misuse of the term "assault weapon", not to mention the term assault rifle. As gunnies, we should not lose sight of the fact that the term "assault weapon" is nothing more than a political term. It was coined by the antigun forces--specifically, Josh Sugarman of the VPC, about 1988--and used by the various antigun advocacy groups to confuse the public about the nature of firearms they wanted to ban--and, in some sense, did so in the 1994 AWB.
As some of you know, the current use of 'assault weapon' by gunnies is fairly common--I see it here in discussions all the time. And, I also see many semiauto EBR-type rifles called "assault rifles"--and that is incorrect; see any version of the firearms lexicon. Personally, I suspect that is because, for many of you now, the AW / AR term has legitimacy for your EBR simply because it's been there for you all of your (gun-)conscious life or before, in political discussions. These terms weren't--Assault Rifles were defined in history by the Germans in the '40, and AFAIK, the first use of Assault Weapons by the MSM was in the reporting of the Luby Cafeteria massacre, in 1991. Some of us remember it well, for it really set off the 'modern' run at Political Gun Control.
Whether or not you want to refer to AR-15-type firearms as MSRs--Modern Sporting Rifles--is up to the you. Personally, I like using the term EBR, or simply the correct name--AR-15 or AK-74, for example. Call it what you will--but the NSSF screed here should serve as a reminder to be knowledgeable and vigilant about our culture and our history.
Jim H.
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