Editing Assault weapon (section)

{{Short description|Controversial term used in U.S. firearm legislation}}
{{About|firearms restricted by some United States laws|rifles capable of selective fire|Assault rifle|other uses|Assault weapon (disambiguation)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
[[File:AR-15 Sporter SP1 Carbine.JPG|thumb|upright=1.35|The [[Colt AR-15]] carbine is a [[semi-automatic rifle]] chambered for fixed [[centerfire ammunition]] that fires one round each time the trigger is pulled. This particular model (like most) features a [[pistol grip]], a [[flash suppressor]], and an [[telescoping stock|adjustable stock]]]]
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In the [[United States]], '''''assault weapon''''' is a controversial term applied to different kinds of [[firearm]]s.<ref name=Goode130116/> There is no clear, consistent definition. It can include [[semi-automatic firearm]]s with a detachable [[Magazine (firearms)|magazine]], a [[pistol grip]], and sometimes other features, such as a [[vertical forward grip]], [[flash suppressor]], or [[barrel shroud]].<ref name=Goode130116/><ref name=Babay121222/> Certain firearms are specified by name in some laws that restrict assault weapons.<ref name=Levs130131/> When the now-defunct [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban]] was passed in 1994, the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] said, "In general, assault weapons are semiautomatic firearms with a large magazine of ammunition that were designed and configured for rapid fire and combat use."<ref name=Levs130131/> The commonly used definitions of assault weapons are under frequent debate, and have changed over time.<ref name=Goode130116/>

The origin of the term has been attributed to legislators, the firearms industry, [[Gun control in the United States|gun control]] groups,<ref name="Tartaro1995" /><ref name="GDBG2AWs2008" /><ref name="Blake130117"/> and the media.<ref name="Kauffman121218"/> It is sometimes used interchangeably with the term [[assault rifle]],<ref name="Poole">{{Cite book |last=Poole |first=Helen |title=Firearms: Global Perspectives on Consequences, Crime and Control |publisher=Routledge |year=2021 |pages=21}}</ref> which refers to [[selective fire]] rifles that use [[intermediate cartridge]]s.<ref name="Blake130117" /> This use has been described as incorrect and a misapplication of the term.<ref name="Poole" /><ref>{{cite web |first=Debbie |last=Lord |date=May 26, 2022 |url=https://www.wokv.com/news/trending/assault-weapon-vs-assault-rifle-what-is-difference/ERZB7FLQ4F6CTFHZ6SYBBCHERA/ |title=Assault Weapon vs. Assault Rifle: What Is the Difference? |website=[[WOKV-FM]] |access-date=June 3, 2022 |archive-date=September 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928032053/https://www.wokv.com/news/trending/assault-weapon-vs-assault-rifle-what-is-difference/ERZB7FLQ4F6CTFHZ6SYBBCHERA/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After the December 2012 [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]], many news organizations ran stories about assault weapons, explaining their varying definitions and presenting varying opinions about whether they should be banned again at the federal level.<ref name=Goode130116>{{cite news |title=Even Defining 'Assault Rifles' Is Complicated |author=Goode, Erica |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/us/even-defining-assault-weapons-is-complicated.html?pagewanted=all |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 16, 2013 |access-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Blake130117>{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Aaron |date=January 17, 2013 |title=Is It Fair to Call Them 'Assault Weapons'? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/01/17/is-it-fair-to-call-them-assault-weapons/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Lallanilla130117>{{cite news |last=Lallanilla |first=Marc |date=January 17, 2013 |title=What Is an Assault Weapon? |url=https://www.foxnews.com/science/what-is-an-assault-weapon/ |publisher=Fox News Channel |access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref>