In the United States, assault weapon is a controversial term applied to different kinds of firearms.[1] There is no clear, consistent definition. It can include semi-automatic firearms with a detachable magazine, a pistol grip, and sometimes other features, such as a vertical forward grip, flash suppressor, or barrel shroud.[1][2] Certain firearms are specified by name in some laws that restrict assault weapons.[3] When the now-defunct Federal Assault Weapons Ban was passed in 1994, the U.S. Department of Justice said, "In general, assault weapons are semiautomatic firearms with a large magazine of ammunition that were designed and configured for rapid fire and combat use."[3] The commonly used definitions of assault weapons are under frequent debate, and have changed over time.[1]
The origin of the term has been attributed to legislators, the firearms industry, gun control groups,[4][5][6] and the media.[7] It is sometimes used interchangeably with the term assault rifle,[8] which refers to selective fire rifles that use intermediate cartridges.[6] This use has been described as incorrect and a misapplication of the term.[8][9] After the December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, many news organizations ran stories about assault weapons, explaining their varying definitions and presenting varying opinions about whether they should be banned again at the federal level.[1][6][10]
- ^ a b c d Goode, Erica (January 16, 2013). "Even Defining 'Assault Rifles' Is Complicated". The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
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GDBG2AWs2008was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Blake, Aaron (January 17, 2013). "Is It Fair to Call Them 'Assault Weapons'?". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Kauffman121218was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Poole, Helen (2021). Firearms: Global Perspectives on Consequences, Crime and Control. Routledge. p. 21.
- ^ Lord, Debbie (May 26, 2022). "Assault Weapon vs. Assault Rifle: What Is the Difference?". WOKV-FM. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Lallanilla, Marc (January 17, 2013). "What Is an Assault Weapon?". Fox News Channel. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
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