Latest Breaking News
In reply to the discussion: Shooter's Gun Jammed During Aurora Attack, Official Says [View all]Igel
(37,657 posts)Assault rifles for civilian purchase have been illegal to make in the US since '86 (that Reagan and his restrictions on guns!).
They've been illegal to buy in the US (except by things like the military or perhaps police) since 1934. Buy one, get caught, and off to the federal penitentiary you go.
Assault rifles are automatic weapons. They have to have a semiautomatic setting. But without the automatic setting, they're not assault rifles. To a certain extent it's like saying a "female rooster" or "a male woman."
It was an assault weapon, which is more of a political scare term than anything meaningful. Semiautomatic, catridges that hold lots of rounds, but ultimately it just meant "scary looking weapon, and trendy among those we don't like because it's scary and easily available."