There is more than ample conjecture that President Obama will attempt to sidestep Congress [again] and the Supreme Court [again] and the Constitution [well, that's just expected] to issue an executive order banning semi-automatic personal protection rifles.
The so-called assault rifle most discussed is the typical AR-15 model which looks very ominous. I found this article from 2009 that explains the difference between a deadly, scary assault rifle and a sporting rifle.
Except for looks, of course. The top two are scary.The first thing to understand is the term “assault weapon” or “assault rifle” is an invention of those that do not understand and wish to invoke scary images in the minds of the unaware. If we look at the term “assault weapon” in the context of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons ban, this rifle is an assault weapon:It’s a semi-automatic rifle, it accepts a detachable magazine, it has a folding stock, a pistol grip. That’s sufficient under the terms of the legislation to say this is an assault rifle. Besides, it’s black, has plastic parts, and looks scary and military, right? especially those “banana clips”.Now look at this rifle:Nice rifle, eh? Wood stock. Nice smooth lines. Looks like something you’d take hunting. It is a semi-automatic and actually does have a detachable magazine, but for some reason this rifle is considered socially acceptable whereas the previous one is not. What’s interesting about these two rifles?Those are both the exact same rifle.
Style over substance... another Washington axiom.
By the way, this is an equivalent weapon.
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