What is an assault weapon? Part one

We are deluged by this term constantly.  Democrats hate them.  Republicans don't want to talk about it.  And most people have no clue what they even are.  Are they machine guns?  Are all semi-autos assault weapons?  What about pistol grips?

The term assault rifle actually goes back to WW2 and a guy we are all too familiar with; Adolph Hitler.  Yes, that guy.  When he learned of the new STG44 rifle, he christened it the Sturmgewehr; literally assault rifle.
That rifle was a departure from the traditional battle rifles of the period.  It was selective fire, meaning it could fire semi or fully automatic.  It had a pistol style grip.  A detachable magazine.  And, most importantly, it was chambered for a new intermediate cartridge.  This new cartridge was significantly shorter and less powerful than the standard 8mm Mauser ammo the Germans were using in their other rifles.

STG 44 ammo

standard 8mm mauser ammo used in Mauser 98 rifle

  This allowed the STG44 to fire full auto in a controllable manner.  Essentially, what they were trying to accomplish was the blending of the battle rifle with the submachine gun.  Although Germany lost the war, the assault rifle was here to stay.  Today there are many assault rifles in use by the militaries of the world.

By definition, an assault rifle is capable of automatic fire.  That makes it a machine gun in the eyes of the law.  Therefore, assault rifles are highly regulated under the 1934 national firearms act and are specifically banned by some states.

In other words, your neighbor's AR 15 is not an assault rifle.



So we know what an assault rifle is.  But what is an assault weapon?  Well, that is up to interpretation.  The 1994 crime bill stated:

`(B) a semiautomatic rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of--

`(i) a folding or telescoping stock;

`(ii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;

`(iii) a bayonet mount;

`(iv) a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor; and

`(v) a grenade launcher;

`(C) a semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of--

`(i) an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;

`(ii) a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer;

`(iii) a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand without being burned;

`(iv) a manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; and

`(v) a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm; and

`(D) a semiautomatic shotgun that has at least 2 of--

`(i) a folding or telescoping stock;

`(ii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;

`(iii) a fixed magazine capacity in excess of 5 rounds; and

`(iv) an ability to accept a detachable magazine.'.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c103:1:./temp/~c103bJveqQ:e644150: