ForgottenWeapons
patreon
Enough Nonsense; What is an "Assault Rifle"? (Ad-free)
🕑 Added 2024-03-16 12:00:07 +0000 UTCThe technical definition of an "assault rifle" is pretty simple and straightforward. It's a shoulder-fired rifle with three elements:
* Capable of fully automatic fire
* Uses detachable magazines
* Chambered for an intermediate cartridge
That's it, and a rifle that meets those criteria can be accurately described as an assault rifle. Unfortunately, this terminology was confused by legislation in the 80s and 90s (and continued incorrect use today) trying to equate scary-looking semiautomatic firearms with military arms under the blanket heading of "assault weapons".
Comments
Guido Schriewer
well explained btw. one could have point to misuse of machine gun as those get confused with smg's and assault or battel rifles SO often.
Guido Schriewer
yeah 1to1 sturm means storm. one can use it synonymously though to assault attack. storm a fortress or storm into a room i.e. wasn't there earlier 80s "assault pistols or carbines" ? idea was a pcc (called now) laaarge capacity in fear of a post apocalyptic nuke war when plundering hordes want to raid people whom went for their own bunkers (silly idea.. ). f*** that cl****n "legislation".. ok I have a ruger mini14 or 30. who cares about "features" and "looks". doesn't change ANY function.
John Arpin
Excellent video. When we surrender language, we are also surrending thinking. Keep up the great work!
Glenn Miller
Excellent video, thanks for a clear definition based on facts, not political agenda.
Mark Farris
The problem with banning scary looking is you really can't. Otherwise AR pistols wouldn't be legal to purchase on the CA handgun roster.
Douglas Biegel
Very good video.
Kenneth Marshall
Personal and common use firearms in the uses identified at the time of constitutional writing were what was examined in the Supreme Court Case NYSRPA V Bruen. It wasn't meant to extend to nuclear weapons for personal defense. It has been held that weapon Systems of an exotic nature that could not be maintained by individuals were probably not part of the nature - but not too many cases in court about it. The point is that at the time of the constitutions writing, persons were allowed to actually maintain a variety of arms for defense of persons and country which was inclusive of many advanced arms of the day. At that time, personal arms were often as advanced or more advanced than military issued. Lewis & Clark used semi auto high capacity magazines ahead of the use of cartridge firearms. The 1860 Henry had a high capacity magazine (>10 rounds) before the military - How can a 10 round mag be advanced and excessive if the first commercial repeater cartridge guns had > 10 rounds. The terms are minimally arbitrary and subject to abuse. Congress is better at marketing than it is at lawful conduct. The Access to Medicare act actually was to limit costly tests or limit healthcare, but market it right and you have it sound better. its all about marketing to the public. Machine guns in 1934 and 1986 were banned out of media hype of people getting machine gunned by gangsters or drug gangs - in truth very few statistically ever were killed by fully automatics and if they were, their rival gangs would not have been dissuaded to kill their opposed - It was just common sense you don't "need" a machine gun = marketing. You don't need freedom of religion, or speech but they are a right nonetheless.
Rick Notkin
IIRC, the loose standard is hand-held, which would exclude helicopters, tanks, and nukes. As far as LAWS and Singers, wellll…
Sam Taylor
That's an interesting point. I've always been interested in a true discussion as to if there should be a limit. Should we be limited to the minimum needed to defend ourselves. Should we able to have any small arm we want. Should a family be able to form a small army with a tank and attack helicopter. 🤔
Forgotten Weapons
Burst is a form of automatic.
Sam Taylor
Are we counting burst as automatic? If that's NOT the case, then the M16A2 and M4 (not A1) are not assault rifles.
Kenneth Marshall
The term "assault" is used to thinly disguise a legal term of attack to the weapons and to try to assign a Military designation in the US to identify a non-sporting purpose. The 2nd amendment evidently is the right to "sport" by GCA 68 not to personal defense.
