Don't media sources and politicians use the silliest definition of assault weapon?

Question

I mean, they classify a gun an assault weapon based solely on physical appearence. I could take a kenetucky long rifle, add a folding stock and a pistol grip and it's suddenly an assault rifle. Or I could do the same thing with a blunderbuss and its an assault weapon. Why does anyone use these definitions for anything, they're pointless and horribly flawed.

Rifles

Folding/telescoping stock
Protruding pistol grip
Bayonet mount
Threaded muzzle or flash suppressor
Grenade launcher
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Pistols

Magazine outside grip
Threaded muzzle
Barrel shroud
Unloaded weight of 50 ounces or more
Semi-automatic version of a fully automatic weapon
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Shotguns

Folding/telescoping stock
Protruding pistol grip
Detachable magazine capacity
Fixed magazine capacity greater than 5 rounds

A bayonette mount and a folding stock on a punt gun? Aren't those things mounted on boats?

Answer 1

There is no such thing as an Assault Weapon.

OK there is, but a stick or a rock are Assault Weapons in that scenario.

I love that they outlawed bayonet mounts. I guess Diane Feinstein and Chuck Schumer heard about all those bayonet crimes going on and decided to do something about it.

People from New York and Massachusetts and California and Illinois....do something about this please and stop voting for these idiots to Congress.

Answer 2

The whole thing is a bait-and-switch tactic. Since no legally owned assault rifle has ever been used in a crime in the US, it makes no sense to add further regulation. On the other hand, most of the populace don't know the difference between a select-fire and a semi-automatic weapon, so it's an easy target for anti-gun politicians to make more senseless regulations on the way to an outright end to private firearms ownership.There can be no other reason for those laws.
Note, too, that journalists are less likely than your average guy to know anything about the subject, and deadlines argue against their educating themselves even if they're interested in knowing the difference. So far as your average journalist is concerned, they're just some scary-looking object they don't understand or use.

Answer 3

I know what you're talking about, here in Hampton roads Va. our local media reported some type of a "gun crime", another misnomer, where the gun used was a ruger 10/22, but they called it an assault rifle. National media refered to the glock and walther as " combat pistols" when they reported the Va. Tech massacre. Irresponsible reporting by the media, which is the norm these days, has done more harm than good. Unbiased media coverage is a concept they have yet to grasp. Why doesn't the media report about how many times legal firearms are used to prevent violent crimes each year (Apprx. 9million year 2005, and growing each year since) States like mine, Virginia, actually have lower violent crime rates, excluding what happened at Va. Tech due to the citizens right to carry a firearm, we;ve had liberal concealed carry for years, and here within the last few years we gained state wide open carry. Imagine how small the death toll at Va. Tech would have been if just 1 or 2 of those students had a conealed weapon with them, but their own school doomed them by REMOVING their right to carry concealed.Even tho they could legally carry outside school grounds, they were left at the mercy of the Universitys "security" force, laughable at best. Excuse my rant.

Answer 4

i believe it is called ignorance and here it is bliss
OK the ultimate assault weapon:
take a punt gun add a bayonet mount, telescoping stock, and a pistol grip, a muzzle break just like the m82 Barrett.
Viola you know have a formidable assault weapon

Answer 5

Because they don't know what they are talking about and follow the well known anti gun politicians around them. The NRA and others are trying to educate politicians but party-line thinking still wins. Unfortunately some well known names (Kennedy, Clinton, Kerry, Schumer and Feinstein to call just a few) have quite an influence (and money) within their party. With the next elections check how your favorite voted on gun issues before you cast your vote, you might be helping the anti gunners.

Answer 6

And they always seem to like to throw up that image of a AK or M-16 in the back ground when there talking about the incident. no matter what type of gun was used.

Answer 7

any thing used as a weapon to assualt someone is an assault weapon. politicians, the media, and other idiots often overlook that simple logic. if someone hits you with a shovel, then a shovel becomes an assault weapon. pretty simple, yet sooo distorted.

Answer 8

Hey- it worked for the Clinton gun ban...


which proves the similarity between Hollywood and Washington, DC : appearance is all.

Answer 9

They classify a .22LR semi-auto an assualt rifle, how stupid is that?