General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Do not think about arguing [View all]A Simple Game
(9,214 posts)As it seems you like Wiki, even though you want to be selective...
From Wiki for assault weapon: The term "assault weapon" is sometimes conflated with the term "assault rifle". According to the Associated Press Stylebook, the media should differentiate between "assault rifles," which are capable of fully automatic firing, and "assault weapons," which are semiautomatic and "not synonymous with assault rifle."[5] Civilian ownership of machine guns (and assault rifles) has been tightly regulated since 1934 under the National Firearms Act and since 1986 under the Firearm Owners Protection Act.[11]
Thus your wanting to talk only about assault rifles.
From your Wiki link for assault rifle: In the United States "assault weapons" are usually defined in legislation as semi-automatic firearms that have certain features generally associated with military firearms, including assault rifles. The 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which expired on September 13, 2004, codified a definition of an assault weapon. It defined the rifle type of assault weapon as a semiautomatic firearm with the ability to accept a detachable magazine and two or more of the following:
The bold is mine. and also points out why you don't want to talk about assault weapons. It also points out the fact that any definition can be legislated, also something you probably wouldn't want to happen.
None of this is counter to my calling assault rifles part of a larger category of assault weapons, which I will concede is a much older definition than the one legislated by our lawmakers. It is also one that will outlast the one legislated. Even you must admit that a rifle is a weapon but a weapon doesn't necessarily have to be a rifle. Weapon is a broader category than rifle but is not limited to the characteristics that define a rifle.
Please don't limit your exposure to information to Wiki, you just don't know the biases that may be incorporated into the information.