# Is a semi automatic rifle an assault rifle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 14, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375 "2016-06-14T21:08:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/81 "2016-06-15T21:47:04Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Yes, God forbid the media describe weapons in terms that make them sound dangerous. > > I can’t be bothered to look up the specifications, but I don’t know that the M-16’s M-16’s 5.56x45mm NATO round is significantly “less powerful” than the M-14’s 7.62×51mm NATO round or the AK-47 7.62×39mm. It’s obviously a smaller round, but it also has a much high muzzle velocity. And as everyone knows, energy increases linearly with mass, but squares with velocity. “Much higher,” no. 7.62x51mm (hereafter .308) bullet is about 3x the weight of 5.56/.223. FPS difference is maybe a couple hundred, or less depending on how you load it. .308 is _indisputably_ more powerful. Whether 5.56 vs 7.62x39mm is a significant difference is much more suspect. They are intended for the same role, whereas modern militaries consider .308 too heavy (can’t carry as much) for current infantry, beyond some specialist sniper-type roles. > [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Q: Aren’t “kits” easily and inexpensively available to purchase ‘legally’ for the AR-15? Kits that, if used, will make the weapon full-auto fire or “bump” fire? > > [link to kits](https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=AR-15+kits) > > [DIY Convert AR15 into a Machine Gun Video (One of Many)](https://youtu.be/Q1bKh3dYDqc?t=229) > > [TL,DW](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTuOfgOITUo&feature=youtu.be&t=402) They don’t do anything to the mechanism of the gun as much as make it spasm against your finger, registering multiple trigger pulls. They’re a gimmick, and can sometimes the same can be done using sophisticated tools like the belt loop on a pair of jeans. You can also get some weapons with free-floating firing pins (like SKS) to shoot off multiple bullets if you don’t clean the firing pin block and crud builds up. I haven’t heard of anyone doing this intentionally; it is considered a bad thing to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/82 "2016-06-15T21:50:52Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > 1. I can’t be bothered to look up the specifications, but I don’t know that the M-16’s M-16’s 5.56x45mm NATO round is significantly “less powerful” than the M-14’s 7.62×51mm NATO round or the AK-47 7.62×39mm. It’s obviously a smaller round, but it also has a much high muzzle velocity. And as everyone knows, energy increases linearly with mass, but squares with velocity. > > 2. Since I’m sure it will come up, a couple of definitions: > The M-16 and AK-47 are “assault rifles”. Lightweight selectable-fire rifles (usually made from stamped parts) designed to be the infantryman’s primary weapon. It’s a specific “thing” compared to the more generic media term “assault weapons” (although I suppose one could apply it accurately to assault rifles, submachinguns, carbines like the M4 and machine pistols like the Uzi or MAC-10). 1. The AR-15/M16 has a muzzle energy around 10-15% less than the AK-47, but it’s less than 1/2 that of the M14. So against one it’s not a big difference but it was correct to say less powerful, and it’s a pretty big difference v 7.62 NATO rifles. Another post said some rifle rounds have 5 times the muzzle energy of the M16 but that’s exceptional, really big hunting/sniper rounds (.50 sniper rifles have 8 times the M16’s ME). How inaccurate that makes it to emphasize ‘high power’ in the media terminology is a judgment call. I would lean to saying it’s superfluous rather than wrong. 1. On the political side ‘assault rifle’ and ‘assault weapon’ aren’t so distinct though. I’ve heard both. On the military/historical side see above. Under the original definition of ‘assault rifle’ the AR-15/M16 was not. Assault rifle included the idea of a ‘full caliber’ but ‘intermediate length’ cartridge, like the Stg.44 and then the AK-47 on a much larger scale postwar. Back when the AR-15 was adopted by the USAF (first, and actually officially designated ‘Rifle, AR-15’) then the US Army as ‘substitute standard’ (and designated ‘M16’) in the early 60’s, the term ‘assault rifle’ was never used (as has been mentioned AR-15=Armalite Rifle-15), nor ‘battle rifle’ for the M14 which remained the official standard US Army rifle until 1969. Those are both IMO too recent terms to insist upon other people using in serious firearms/firearms history discussions. Back on the political side, at some point it really doesn’t make a difference, or ‘assault’ can even be a silly term if as in some previous laws it applies to some guns with pistol grips, bayonet lugs etc and not to virtually exactly equal weapons without those. IMO it would be common sense and small gesture of reasonableness for gun control people to just say they want to limit/ban semi-automatic rifles with box magazines, and/or try to limit the magazine sizes, and explain why, and drop ‘assault’. That describes what you want to control/ban (first), and as above it’s not even crystal clear what ‘assault’ actually means even in a serious non-political firearms discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/83 "2016-06-15T21:51:52Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Q: Aren’t “kits” easily and inexpensively available to purchase ‘legally’ for the AR-15? Kits that, if used, will make the weapon full-auto fire or “bump” fire? > > [link to kits](https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=AR-15+kits) This is for the parts necessary to assemble a rifle except the lower. The lower receiver is the part of the rifle that is stamped with the serial number and considered the firearm. The other parts are just metal and can be purchased with no restrictions, generally. > [@](#): > > [DIY Convert AR15 into a Machine Gun Video (One of Many)](https://youtu.be/Q1bKh3dYDqc?t=229) This is a kit to convert a .223 chambered lower receiver into a .22lr weapon. Some folks do this because .22lr ammo is much cheaper and you can still practice and train with the same ergonomics of an AR pattern rifle. > [@](#): > > [TL,DW](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTuOfgOITUo&feature=youtu.be&t=402) This is a bump fire stock that when used as designed can allow what is seen on the video. Essentially the recoil of the shot forces the stock to compress. The stock is spring loaded so after the initial recoil has passed, the rifle will lurch forward. If activated correctly, the force could be such that the gun fires in rapid succession. The finger is still pulling the trigger once for each round fired. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/84 "2016-06-15T21:52:29Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > …Yes, that’s the idea. They would have to find some other weapon that doesn’t allow you to kill a room full of people in seconds. (post shortened) Something like a bomb, perhaps? No, a bomb could kill a building full of people in seconds. Maybe glass bottles filled with a flammable liquid? Lock the doors and let the intended victims die during the panic? And to answer the OP, no I don’t consider a semi automatic (auto-reloading) rifle to be an assault rifle. Assault rifles are capable of automatic fire (multiple rounds are fired with a single pull of the trigger). ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/85 "2016-06-15T21:56:20Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Currently, the “AR-15” brand name is owned by Colt’s Manufacturing Company … there are clones in abundance, but legally only Colt can use the name “AR-15”. It stands for ArmaLite Rifle model # 15, but the design and brand name were purchased by Colt in 1959. > > It’s a rifle, nothing more, designed to kill things. Semi-automatic is handy when varmint hunting, popping a squirrel typically spooks another, and you don’t want to be fooling with the bolt or pump to get another shot off. Granted, that NATO cartridge is a bit much for jack rabbits and raccoons, but it’s fine for mule deer and coyotes. If you have brown bears as varmints, you definitely don’t want to be fooling with the bolt or pump, you’re going to want a high capacity magazine … several in fact … you may still wind up running. You can swim, run or climb away from most predators. Bears, OTOH can do all of these things better than you. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/86 "2016-06-15T22:07:07Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Or have you just given the game away that actually the whole distinction between assault weapons, assault rifles etc doesn’t matter a damn? Well assault rifles are machine guns, assault weapons are not. that’s not really what anyone would call a meaningless distinction. I think what is being given away is that the distinctions between assault weapons and plain old rifles doesn’t matter a damn. but they used the name assault weapon because they want you to be confused about the difference between assault rifles and their manufactured term “assault weapon” ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/87 "2016-06-15T22:15:48Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I know. That’s why I’m confused. You said “The same thing happened after WWII. The 30-30 rifle, based off of the M1 rifle”. IME, when someone uses the term “30-30 rifle”, they are referring to either a Winchester 1894 or a Marlin 336, neither of which bare any resemblance to an M1 Garand. The Mini-14 however was based off of the M1. Um, not exactly. I suggest Ruger’s Mini-14 was based on Springfield’s M-14. Both use external removable magazines. The M-1 Garand uses an non-removable internal magazine. Though I suppose one could argue the M-14 was an improved M-1 Garand. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/88 "2016-06-15T22:20:48Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > This is the kind of logic often touted by the gun lobby, but the simple fact is, gun bans in general and assault weapon / assault rifle / SMG bans in particular, _actually work_. With all due respect, you don’t know what the fuck you are talking about. We had an assault weapons ban in this country for 10 years and by all accounts it had no effect on anything. The main reason is that rifles account for a teeny tiny percentage of all crimes and murders committed with a firearm and assault weapons are a SUBSET of rifles. So banning them had no measurable impact on anything (except the price of the pre-existing assault weapon which were now collectibles). > [@](#): > > We see examples of that all around the world, both in countries that have effectively always banned guns, and in countries that have recently tightened their laws, such as Australia and the UK. People keep saying that no one wants to ban all guns or confiscate all guns and we also keep hearing about how awesome it would be if we could ban and confiscate all guns. Are we really supposed to believe that claims that gun control folks don’t want to confiscate guns? > [@](#): > > One only needs to compare homicide, gun deaths and mass killing deaths to other countries to get a very clear idea of this (and yes, as a proportion of population, obviously) Mass shootings: are such infrequent events that you are about as likely to be hit (but not necessarily killed) by lightning as you are to be killed in a mass shooting. The hysteria is mostly the result of the media. I could make a MUCH better argument that violating the FIRST amendment and preventing the media from reporting about mass shootings would have a more significant impact on the frequency of mass shootings than banning assault weapons would. But people seem to think that the first amendment is too valuable to shut down just because it might inspire someone to engage in a mass shooting. The second amendment, meh, not so much, fuck those rednecks. Suicide: America’s suicide rate is dead fucking average for wealthy industrialized nations even after we pull out countries like Japan and Korea. It turns out that jumping off of tall buildings and in front of trains or hanging yourself from your window can also be effective means of suicide. > [@](#): > > Now, you may object to bans on civil liberties grounds. Fine. > But I think it’s totally erroneous to claim that attempts to restrict the sale of guns or assault weapons are counterproductive and just political showboating. Banning guns entirely might have some impact over a very long time horizon during which civilians would be disarmed and criminals would remain armed but an Assault Weapons Ban? If a politician says it have any real effect, then they are either lying or stupid, or both. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/89 "2016-06-15T22:24:04Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Given that the Armalite started life as a military weapon, it _was_ designed to “kill people and only people”. That it _today_ gets used for hunting or target plinking and has all sorts of mods doesn’t mean that’s what it was _designed_ for. Most bolt action rifles are direct descendants of bolt action rifles used in the military. If the criteria is that it was originally designed for military use, then you are talking about virtually every handgun and rifle in existence. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/90 "2016-06-15T22:26:30Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > I think we can all agree that badly-written laws are bad. > > What I was arguing against was the general disdain for gun control being shown in this thread. And the general arguments of “Well, lower-powered guns can still kill” and “How do you draw the line between low-powered and high-powered guns? Therefore all should be legal”. > None of this actually stands up to scrutiny. Countries can and have banned assault weapons with demonstrable success. No, no they have not. For example America saw no measurable impact during the 10 years of our assault weapons ban. > [@](#): > > Putting aside the poor arguments in this thread, I think, yes, there are reasons for why naive gun control measures may not have the intended effect in the US: the ubiquity of guns, and their place in US culture. > But that’s not the argument being advanced by most in this thread. The problem with almost all gun control measure is that criminals generally won’t give a shit about the gun control law and if you are only talking about the gun crimes committed by the previously law abiding citizen, the numbers get much less alarming. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/91 "2016-06-15T22:37:16Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > You may have missed it - but I was responding to the training aspect. Do you think training requirements are acceptable for loaded carry permits or do people have a right carry loaded firearms even if they cannot demonstrate competency in handling firearms. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/92 "2016-06-15T22:37:32Z")
Okay, probably mostly to just get this out of my system, let me post some definitions of various types of firearms. These are the ones I use/think of, ymmv. 1. Pistol - Hand fired, effective range 40 yards, small rounds (generally). 2. Carbine - Shoulder fired small rifle that fires pistol ammunition. Effective range to maybe 150 yards. 3. Submachine Gun - Carbine capable of selective fire. 4. Assault Rifle - Selective fire, intermediate cartridge, effective range maybe 400 yards. 5. Main Battle Rifle - Semi auto or bolt action, full sized cartridge, effective range up to 1000 yards. 6. Squad Automatic Weapon - MBR capable of Full Auto. Frankly, I don’t think of the US’s current M-4 as a carbine or a submachine gun. I think it’s just a shorty assault rifle. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/93 "2016-06-15T22:42:26Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > Something like a bomb, perhaps? No, a bomb could kill a building full of people in seconds. Maybe glass bottles filled with a flammable liquid? Lock the doors and let the intended victims die during the panic? It’s not legal to blow people up either. I don’t understand your point. Are you saying just because people can always find something to kill other people with, we shouldn’t restrict anything that can kill people? That’s just dumb. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/94 "2016-06-15T22:54:38Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > It’s not legal to blow people up either. > > I don’t understand your point. Are you saying just because people can always find something to kill other people with, we shouldn’t restrict anything that can kill people? That’s just dumb. It’s my position that if you actually did have the votes to ban all firearms, you would still have mass murdering monsters to deal with. You can deal with the actual problem (the psychopathic monster), or you can create “feel good” laws that only prevent law abiding people from defending themselves. In Orlando, a mass murdering monster broke the law by bringing a firearm into a gun-free zone. :eek: I’ve noticed that mass murdering monster do not care what laws have been passed, or what laws will be passed. They intend to murder as many people as possible by any means possible. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/95 "2016-06-15T22:58:57Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Do you think training requirements are acceptable for loaded carry permits or do people have a right carry loaded firearms even if they cannot demonstrate competency in handling firearms. I’m indifferent on training requirements per se. If they serve as a barrier to licensure then they should be abolished. This is mostly because I don’t think they have much impact either way. I think people should obtain training and that most people do on their own with or without a requirement. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/96 "2016-06-15T23:11:26Z")
I’ve seen a few comments about the UK’s violent crime rate that, maybe, isn’t quite correct; > [@](#): > > Britain’s violent crime record is worse than any other country in the European union, it has been revealed. > > Official crime figures show the UK also has a worse rate for all types of violence than the U.S. and even South Africa - widely considered one of the world’s most dangerous countries. – [“The most violent country in Europe: Britain is also worse than South Africa and U.S.”](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196941/The-violent-country-Europe-Britain-worse-South-Africa-U-S.html) — Daily Mail, July 2nd, 2009 Note: This rate includes simple assault in Scotland ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/97 "2016-06-16T00:06:37Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Q: Aren’t “kits” easily and inexpensively available to purchase ‘legally’ for the AR-15? Kits that, if used, will make the weapon full-auto fire or “bump” fire? > > [link to kits](https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=AR-15+kits) > > [DIY Convert AR15 into a Machine Gun Video (One of Many)](https://youtu.be/Q1bKh3dYDqc?t=229) > > [TL,DW](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTuOfgOITUo&feature=youtu.be&t=402) No, a “kit” that converts a semi-auto AR-15 to full-auto fire (where one can just hold down the trigger and fire multiple rounds) is not available to be easily nor inexpensively purchased legally. The second link “DIY Convert AR15 into a Machine Gun Video (One of Many)” is a horribly misleading description. The video you linked to is not of a machine gun. It’s a conversion kit to change the _caliber_ of the rifle, so that it can shoot .22LR ammo instead of the regular .223 ammo. In that video, the guy does fire very rapidly, but that’s still semi-auto: he is pulling the trigger with each shot. The third link, the TL,DW video is showing a bump fire stock, which is again, not actually full auto, although to the uninitiated it may appear quite similar. The user with a bump fire stock can’t just hold the trigger down and fire multiple shots. A bump-fire stock just assists a user in rapidly pulling the trigger repeatedly by using the recoil from the gun to lift your finger off the trigger and tension from the shooter’s support hand to quickly depress the trigger again. It sort of simulates a full-auto-ish rate of fire, but it doesn’t make your gun an actual full-auto “machine gun” in the eyes of the law. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/98 "2016-06-16T00:07:31Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > So, if you take away all of the AR-15s, all of the whack jobs out there that want to kill people will just sit on their couches and think happy thoughts? Or will they just find some other non-banned weapon to use? Then we can ban them, too. And then when something else is used we can ban that. And then… ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/99 "2016-06-16T00:20:06Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Mass shootings: are such infrequent events that you are about as likely to be hit (but not necessarily killed) by lightning as you are to be killed in a mass shooting. If that is the case, why the need to carry around a gun as a way to protect yourself against a mass shooting, or as a way to be prepared to stop one? What are the odds of being robbed on the street? What are the odds of being in ANY situation in public where you need to have gun? ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bruce\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375/100 "2016-06-16T00:20:36Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > The hysteria is mostly the result of the media. I could make a MUCH better argument that violating the FIRST amendment and preventing the media from reporting about mass shootings would have a more significant impact on the frequency of mass shootings than banning assault weapons would. But people seem to think that the first amendment is too valuable to shut down just because it might inspire someone to engage in a mass shooting. I agree with this point. [Lanza and a few other mass shooters](http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2015/10/columbine-effect-mass-shootings-copycat-data) were inspired by the Columbine massacre. [Here](http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/13/media/orlando-shooting-omar-mateen-no-notoriety/) is a group that seems to get it. Making sure the killers name doesn’t get mentioned unless its absolutely necessary and instead focusing on the victims. The FBI director did that very thing and I hope the media at large does the same. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-semi-automatic-rifle-an-assault-rifle/757375.md?page=6)