Skip to main content

G&A Man on the Street: What's Your Definition of an Assault Weapon?

G&A Man on the Street: What's Your Definition of an Assault Weapon?

Digging nails into a chalkboard sounds like smooth jazz compared to the ongoing exploitation of the term "assault weapon."

Knee-jerk media outlets are working mercilessly to gain support for the leftist gun-control agenda. Unethical journalists have formed an entire vocabulary of gun-demonizing terms, leading those who know nothing about guns to believe that "assault clips" are more dangerous than walking down a dark alley at night in Chicago.

Just as a reminder, firearms don't have a brain, they don't have feelings and they can't make their own decisions. Calling a semi-automatic rifle an "assault rifle" brands an inanimate object with a negative connotation. In reality, the terms "freedom defender" or "modern musket" should be the politically-correct terms when referring to an instrument which nobly protects American liberties.

According to the NRA-ILA Glossary, "[if the term 'assault rifle' is] applied to any semi-automatic firearm regardless of its cosmetic similarity to a true assault rifle, the term is incorrect." A true assault rifle is a select-fire weapon capable of continuously firing rounds as long as the trigger is depressed, or until it runs out of ammo. Real assault rifles are heavily regulated by the BATF, and require an extensive registration process for private civilian ownership.

Semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15 shoot only one shot per trigger pull. Much to the surprise of people who rely on the evening news to learn about guns, the "AR" in "AR-15" stands for "Armalite," the name of the company that originally manufactured the rifle.

With all the misleading information forced upon the American public, the editors at G&A hit the floor of the 2013 NRA Show to find out your definition of an assault weapon.




Current Magazine Cover

Enjoy articles like this?

Subscribe to the magazine.

Get access to everything Guns & Ammo has to offer.
Subscribe to the Magazine

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Optics

Red Dots for Rimfires

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Optics

Setting Scope Eye Relief

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: IWB & Closed-Front Garments

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: AIWB Accuracy

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: One-Hand Operations

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Personal Defense

Improving The Draw: Holster Placement

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Accessories

Learn About Handgun Retention with New Safariland Holsters

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Rimfire

CCI Uppercut .22 LR Ammunition for Self-Defense

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Accessories

Caldwell VelociRadar Chronograph

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Handguns

Canik TTI Combat: Full Review

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Industry

Interview: Doug Hamlin, NRA's New CEO

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new Fa...
Optics

HIVIZ FastDot H3 Handgun Sights

Guns and Ammo Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Guns & Ammo App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Guns & Ammo stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Guns & Ammo stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use