# What is an "assault weapon"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 11, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076 "2009-03-11T14:11:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/1 "2009-03-11T14:11:07Z")
I’m not intending to start a debate, but I’ve seen this phrase crop up in the various gun control threads and wanted a proper definition. I know very little about guns, though. When I think “assault weapon” I think of, say, an Uzi or an AK-47. Am I wrong? Educate me. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/2 "2009-03-11T14:12:50Z")
Assault Weapon is a term coined by gun control advocates to further legislation and obfuscate the issue of gun control. Assault _rifle_ is a real term, denoting a weapon of intermediate caliber, and selective fire capabilities. Assault Weapon has no real or legitimate definition. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/3 "2009-03-11T14:28:55Z")
Here’s the definition given in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (the statute which contained the now-expired Federal assault weapons ban): [QUOTE=] (b) DEFINITION OF SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPON- Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: `(30) The term `semiautomatic assault weapon’ means– `(A) any of the firearms, or copies or duplicates of the firearms in any caliber, known as– `(i) Norinco, Mitchell, and Poly Technologies Avtomat Kalashnikovs (all models); `(ii) Action Arms Israeli Military Industries UZI and Galil; `(iii) Beretta Ar70 (SC-70); `(iv) Colt AR-15; `(v) Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR, and FNC; `(vi) SWD M-10, M-11, M-11/9, and M-12; `(vii) Steyr AUG; `(viii) INTRATEC TEC-9, TEC-DC9 and TEC-22; and `(ix) revolving cylinder shotguns, such as (or similar to) the Street Sweeper and Striker 12; `(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.'. [/QUOTE] As noted above, it’s essentially a meaningless and arbitrary definition which uses more-or-less cosmetic features to define the term. No street criminal is going to care whether his gun has a bayonet mount. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/4 "2009-03-11T14:30:56Z")
Beer bottle, table leg, baseball bat, knife, brick, et. al. are what I think of when I hear the term. But I’m smarter than most politicians. :dubious: As **Todderbob** said it’s a made up team that’s used to vilify rifles that bear a similarity in appearance to “assault rifles” but are semi automatic in operation rather than select fire. In case you didn’t know, select fire means that the user can select the operation of the rifle. Single shot, or automatic/burst fire. Many “hunting rifles” are semi automatic in operation. One pull of the trigger will cause a round to discharge, extract/eject the empty case, and a new round to be chambered from the magazine. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/5 "2009-03-11T15:02:27Z")
As defined by the act, it’s pretty much any firearm that isn’t a “plain vanilla” shotgun, pistol or hunting rifle. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/6 "2009-03-11T15:03:05Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Many “hunting rifles” are semi automatic in operation. One pull of the trigger will cause a round to discharge, extract/eject the empty case, and a new round to be chambered from the magazine. Just to explain a bit more. Most guns you can buy these days are semiautomatic. All pistols except revolvers and most rifles. Shotguns are the big nonsemiautomatic gun, but these days some use a similar concept. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/7 "2009-03-11T15:04:22Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Just to explain a bit more. Most guns you can buy these days are semiautomatic. All pistols except revolvers and most rifles. Shotguns are the big nonsemiautomatic gun, but these days some use a similar concept. My shotgun is Semiautomatic. ---
**Author:** ![Iamametalrobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@Iamametalrobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iamametalrobot)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/8 "2009-03-11T15:12:10Z")
Basically, an “assault weapon” is any (usually) semi-automatic firearm that looks scary. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/9 "2009-03-11T16:10:10Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > All pistols except revolvers There are single-shot pistols. Webley-Fosbery made a [semi-automatic revolver](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webley-Fosbery_Automatic_Revolver) from 1901 to 1915. And I’ll agree with everyone else. An assalt _rifle_ is capable of automatic fire (i.e., it’s a ‘machine gun’). ‘Assault _weapon_’ is a term made up for civilian firearms that look scary but that are functionally identical to myriad other sporting arms. ---
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/10 "2009-03-11T16:16:54Z")
One you use to murder your family and friends with? ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/11 "2009-03-11T16:25:37Z")
> [@Burton](#): > > One you use to murder your family and friends with? Leave grandpa’s car out of it - he didn’t mean to a) drive thru the crowd b) fall asleep at the wheel. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/12 "2009-03-11T17:28:58Z")
What really gets me is this one: > [@](#): > > (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; . Can anyone explain to me why having the magazine not in the grip sets a semiautomatic pistol down the road towards being an eeevil assault weapon? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/13 "2009-03-11T17:32:54Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Can anyone explain to me why having the magazine not in the grip sets a semiautomatic pistol down the road towards being an eeevil assault weapon? :dubious: As noted, the term was made up by lawmakers largely based on cosmetics. Having a detatchable magazine not in the grip is scary-looking. The idea is to ban the TEC-9 and anything that remotely resembles a TEK-9, without having to enumerate each one. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/14 "2009-03-11T17:34:40Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > As noted, the term was made up by lawmakers largely based on cosmetics. Having a detatchable magazine not in the grip is scary-looking. The idea is to ban the TEC-9 and anything that remotely resembles a TEK-9, without having to enumerate each one. Or an Uzi, where the magazine attaches _to_ the grip, rather than in it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/15 "2009-03-11T17:39:10Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Or an Uzi, where the magazine attaches _to_ the grip, rather than in it. The magazine on an Uzi does fit into the pistol grip. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/16 "2009-03-11T17:42:12Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Or an Uzi, where the magazine attaches _to_ the grip, rather than in it. An Uzi mag does go into the grip, it also protrudes out the bottom because it holds more rounds than a typical pistol mag. You can buy 20-30 round mags for pistols and they also protrude. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/17 "2009-03-11T18:02:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Or an Uzi, where the magazine attaches to the grip, rather than in it. I note that the definition in the law specifically calls out the Uzi. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/18 "2009-03-11T18:06:19Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The magazine on an Uzi does fit into the pistol grip. _Most_ of it protrudes, though, right? > [@Chronos](#): > > I note that the definition in the law specifically calls out the Uzi. Tec-9, too. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/19 "2009-03-11T18:16:34Z")
It’s been a while since I’ve handled an Uzi (and I’ve never fired one), but I think most of the magazine is contained within the pistol grip. However magazines come in different sizes, so some may protrude more than the portion in the grip. EDIT: I misspelled Tec-9 earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076/20 "2009-03-11T18:16:54Z")
The law may specifically mention the Uzi but it is worth mentioning that the Uzi is an automatic weapon and thus has been heavily restricted since the National Firearms Act of 1934. The Assault Weapons Ban actually changed nothing meaningful in regard to the legal status of the Uzi. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-an-assault-weapon/489076.md?page=2)