My pet names for the "Assault Weapon"

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Yoda

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I really don't like using the term, "Assault Weapon," when talking about AR-15s and AK-47s (or even SKSs), so I use other terms.

If I'm talking with people who know what I'm talking about and who generally agree with me, I like to use the term, "Evil Black Rifle." It's almost a verbal assault on the anti-gunners, but it's a bit of playful fun for the rest of us.

I occasionally use the term, "Katrina Carbine." It not only describes what the gun IS, but it also describes what the gun IS FOR.

Maybe a looser term would be helpful. How about, "Modern Rifle?" Who could argue against us having a modern rifle? Remember, the anti-gunners intentionally created the term, "assault gun" in order to blur the distinctions between modern semi-auto rifles and those dreaded machine guns. A term like "modern rifle" would blur the distinctions the OTHER way, and to our benefit.

- - - Yoda
 
I don't know anyone personally that owns an assault rifle.
That was a term brought about by the Gun Ban crowd years ago.
After all, what reasonable liberal thinks anyone needs a gun who's only purpose is to assault other people with?

By definition, an Assault Rifle has a happy switch on it!
My AR-15's and Mini-14 don't have full-auto capability.

I call mine either Semi-Auto's, Sporting Rifles, Varmint Rifles, or for maximum shock value, Homeland Defense rifles.

rc
 
"Modern Rifle?"
Click to expand...
Modern is one of those tough words. Could mean Europe after 1500 AD. Architecture after 1900. Heck, the "Post-Modern Period" started in the 1950s.

And the point is, most of these rifles designs are between 65 and 50 years old at this point. Even the "space-age"-styled Steyr AUG is over 30 years old now. They are not "high-tech killing devices," as they are usually demonized; although still very functional, they are becoming quaint, nostalgic--almost historical. Just a few decades away from being Mauser K98s.

So: "20th Century rifles." :)

Otherwise, the standard, bland "home defense gun" or "home security gun."

I call my HD-outfitted AR15 my "coyote gun. Takes care of both species: 4-legged and 2-legged." :evil:
 
I'm not scared of the term. I like to call them assault rifles even if they are not. The anti's have almost no traction anymore and another AWB is extremely unlikely. May as well have fun.
 
Assault Weapon is a political term that encompasses far more than just rifles.

Here in California we have assault weapon handguns, if any semi-auto pistol has a threaded barrel on it then it instantly becomes an 'assault weapon'. Take your standard handgun, put in an aftermarket threaded barrel, or thread an existing one and assemble it, assault weapon.
I believe it is punishable by 10 years in prison.


There is also assault weapon shotguns, the criteria for which can include just being semi-auto and having a folding stock and pistol grip.



Some of the Federal level 'renewals' have added a sentence that says anything the Attorney General (read ATF as the agency given oversight through the AG) deems does not fit a sporting purpose if it has ever been adopted by any federal law enforcement agency. All they would have to do is buy one for the agency to declare any firearm an 'assault weapon' if it is semi-auto irregardless of any other features.




So 'assault weapon' really means nothing, it is entirely a legislative term that changes as bills add new definitions and people believing they know what it means has tended to work in the antis favor. Many people not in favor of AR or AK type firearms thinking that is what is being referred to have not opposed legislation that can ban something as mundane as a handgun with a threaded barrel, or a semi-auto with a folding stock.



Further the actual real term "assault rifle" that refers to just rifles describes a select fire firearm that uses an intermediate (weaker than the old minimum) cartridge specifically to make them more controllable on full auto fire.
That was the whole reason they originally designed the firearms, to have the usefulness of a submachinegun, but greater range and firepower, on full auto fire. Full power rifles had too much recoil, and submachineguns had the limits imposed by the pistol ammo they used.
Yes the semi-auto AR and AK and some other common popular firearms are based on these assault rifle patterns, but the key feature of an 'assault rifle' was controllable fire on burst and fully automatic fire. Without select fire capability, the defining characteristic, what you really have is just a aesthetic imitation.
So 'assault rifle' has never been an appropriate term for semi-auto only variants.


So 'assault weapon' is a legislative term with no real set definition, that changes at the whim of politicians and confuses the general public that thinks they know what it means. And "assault rifle' is a title 2 firearm and a term that does not apply to semi-auto firearms.
So you are correct in that you certainly need another term, because neither term is appropriate.
 
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It's a rifle. Call it one. Giving them a cute name makes a distinction that there is something different about them and does everyone a disservice. Same with the term "standard capacity magazine" people throw around. The capacity shouldn't enter into it. It's a magazine.
 
I just call it a rifle or my weapon. We never used the term "assault weapon" in the military, and we never used "gun" either. Guns are machineguns and bigger.

The anti's and the media love "assault weapons", it sounded more villianous back during the days leading to the ban in '94. Beware a focused blaming complete with terms and definitions... For instance, the next ban will be focused around mental health I believe. Now in every shooting, that is brought up. On "Ceasefire's" website, they mention this too --this is the new anti position. That weapons should be banned due to possible mental unstability, and since you never know who could go off when, well, we should all submit freely to a ban.

On the news recently there was a robbery and/or shooting at a local bank here in WA. Guess what the suspects used? You guessed it. "Military assault rifles and military assault pistols". Wow, must be well connected to DARPA or something, because I never saw these in the army, particularly the assault pistol! The picture, the video was too bad to tell what they were actually, but I know in the army, we had M4's and M9 pistols, and neither were called assault weapons.

Using these terms is also purely emotional, it isn't plain reporting. Plain reporting would be calling them either rifles, pistols, guns, weapons, firearms, or the ACTUAL model of the weapon. To apply the descriptor, the adjective to the noun, is to go a little further in description but the choice of "assault" is an emotional one.

Never owned a "high capacity" magazine either. No, I take that back. I do have a few of the 33rd. Glock mags, but for some reason, I never went and shot anyone. I can't figure it out, since assault pistol + high capacity mag + angry at how governement is working SHOULD, in anti-land anyway, make me an automatic spree killer. But you know, I might have broken the cycle when I put adjustable sights on what would be an otherwise "assault pistol" thereby converting it to a "sport pistol" and just narrowly avoiding a violent and lethal shooting spree at the local mall.

Then again, maybe I just own some rifles and pistols and practice safe shooting and carrying, I don't have a "bloodlust" or desire to use them on anyone, and so exercising my 2A rights doesn't negatively affect anyone.
 
I like that "stop assault rifle".

Remember, folks - even if a term isn't technically correct, if it is a legal definition - as described in law - then it is a practical term.
 
We call the SKS "The Dragon" because of the way it belches fire or "Boomstick" for the sound.

We call the Remington 700 our "Optically Enhanced Protein Harvester".

We also have some "Precision Balanced Cutlery With Predictable Flight Characteristcs" but those are just for fun, not a really good choice for offense or defense.

We also play Scrabble, can't you tell?
 
No inanimate object can "assault" anything. The verbal abuse I have gotten from anti-gun people is legally an assault. Just as someone writing about evil gun nuts is commiting libil about me.

Not trying to start a war. Just repeating things said by smarter people than me.

Cheers,

ts

btw: my .223 is the gopher getter, 6.8 is dear tick medison, the .458 socom is HOG HEAVEN.
 
I usually just say plain ol' "rifle." I see no need to categorize it, unless it's primary use is the subject of the conversation.

Other choices include: Modern Rifle/Modern Sporting Rifle, Semi-auto Rifle, Defensive Carbine, Emergency Rifle, Mid-range Rifle, Home Protection Rifle, Security-caliber Rifle,
etc...

Basically, I prefer to use "non-scary" terms to describe any firearm.
 
I dont seem to be engaged in many conversations where this even comes up. Perhaps the circle i travel in is small. My hunting friends , guys at the range, work friends and clients, neighbors etc. I refer to them as rifles, which is what they are. In my opinion these "nicknames" perpetuate the negative image. Seems unnecessary to make them more than they are: rifles.
 
I've got a nice long list of these...

* Evil Black Rifle
* Exciting Beautiful Rifle
* Black Beauty
* Shiny
* Reason
* Super Happy Fun Thing Of Doom
* My Intermediate Friend.
* Cool And Unusual Device
* Gunman's Best Fried
* Instant Security
* Safety 30
* Nadezha
* Hotel Kalashnikova
* Dakka
* Pownage
* Attitude Adjuster
* Dispute Arbitrator
* Uncivil Protection
* Anti Scumbag Device
* Equalizer
* Happiness
* Alpha Kilo
* Jay Eye Sea
* Insurance
* Joy
* Tango Lima Foxtrot Golf
* This Liberal's Favorite Gun
 
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In 1778, an "assault weapon" was a Brown Bess or a Charleville. To me, it' s a
U.S. Rifle Model of 1888 aka Rod Bayonet Trapdoor Springfield. It's what I carried up San Juan Hill in 1898.
 
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