Editing Assault weapon (section)

===Differing state law definitions===
{{Main|Assault weapons legislation in the United States}}

Seven states have assault weapon bans with different definitions and characteristics.<ref name=Nahmias121222>{{cite news |last=Nahmias |first=Laura |date=December 22, 2012 |title=Cuomo for Gun Laws |url=https://www.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323777204578192013919197452.html |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=December 26, 2012 |quote=New York is one of only seven states that have assault-weapons bans in place, according to the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence. }}</ref>
* [[California]] defines assault weapons by name, by "series" ([[AK-47]] or [[AR-15 style rifle|AR-15]]), and by characteristic.<ref name="CA_Law">{{cite web |url=http://oag.ca.gov/firearms/regagunfaqs#1 |title=Frequently Asked Questions: What is considered an assault weapon under California law? |publisher=California Department of Justice |quote=There are three categories of assault weapons under California law. The first category is firearms listed on the original [[Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989|Roberti-Roos assault weapons]] list (Penal Code section 12276, subds (a), (b), and (c)). The second category of assault weapons is AK and AR-15 series weapons, pdf (Penal Code sections 12276 (e) and (f)). The third category of assault weapons is defined by specific generic characteristics (PC section 12276.1, SB 23).|date=2011-12-16 }}</ref> A shotgun with a revolving cylinder is also defined as an assault weapon.<ref name=SB23-2000/>
* [[Connecticut]] defines assault weapons as selective-fire firearms (including assault rifles capable of fully automatic or burst fire); semi-automatic firearms specified by name; and semi-automatic firearms with specific characteristics.<ref name=ConnJudicial/>
* [[Hawaii]] defines and bans assault ''pistols''.{{refn|group=n|United States firearms expert Robert E. Walker says the term "assault pistol" is difficult to define and may be based on perceived "paramilitary or nonsporting application, appearance, or configuration."<ref name=Walker2013>{{cite book |last=Walker |first=Robert E. |year=2013 |title=Cartridges and Firearm Identification |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=THQ1iG8fSG8C&pg=PT192 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-4665-8881-3|pages=192–93}}</ref>}}<ref name=CQR130308>{{cite journal |last=Mantel |first=Barbara |date=March 8, 2013 |title=Gun Control |url=http://www.cqpress.com/product/Researcher-Gun-Control-v23-10.html |journal=CQ Researcher |volume=23 |issue=10 |pages=233–256|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923210946/http://www.cqpress.com/product/Researcher-Gun-Control-v23-10.html |archive-date=2015-09-23}}</ref>
* [[Maryland]] defines and bans assault ''pistols''. It regulates 45 other assault weapons listed by make or model including copies, regardless of manufacturer.<ref name=CQR130308/><ref name="ATFStates31st">{{cite book |url=http://www.atf.gov/publications/firearms/state-laws/31st-edition/index.html |title=State Laws and Published Ordinances – Firearms |edition=31st |date=January 2011 |chapter=Maryland – MD Code |chapter-url=http://www.atf.gov/files/publications/download/p/atf-p-5300-5-31st-editiion/States/atf-p-5300-5-maryland-2010.pdf |publisher=ATF.gov |pages=219–220 |access-date=December 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213200525/http://www.atf.gov/publications/firearms/state-laws/31st-edition/index.html |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Massachusetts]] defines assault weapons as semi-automatic firearms with the same definition provisions from the expired federal ban of 1994.<ref name="MA_Law">{{cite web |url=http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140/Section121 |title=General Laws: Title XX, Chapter 140, Section 121 |work=Massachusetts Laws |publisher=The 188th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |access-date=January 3, 2013}}</ref>
* [[New York (state)|New York]] had an assault weapons ban prior to 2013, but on January 16 of that year it passed the [[New York Safe Act|SAFE Act]], which created a stricter definition of assault weapons and banned them immediately.<ref name="NY_Law">{{cite web |url=http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/nycode/ADC/10/3/10-301 |title=N.Y. ADC. LAW § 10-301 : NY Code – Section 10-301: Control and regulation of the disposition, purchase and possession of firearms, rifles, shotguns and assault weapons |access-date=December 28, 2012}}</ref><ref name="NYSAFEAct-PR">{{cite press release |last=Cuomo |first=Andrew M. |date=January 16, 2013 |title=Governor Cuomo Signs NY Safe Act in Rochester |url=http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/12162013cuomo-signs-safe-act-roch |location=Rochester, New York |publisher=Governor's Press Office |access-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Berger130118>{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Judson |date=January 18, 2013 |title=NY Guv Looks to Clarify Gun Law After Concern About Exemption for Police |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ny-guv-looks-to-clarify-gun-law-after-concern-about-exemption-for-police/ |publisher=Fox News Channel |access-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref> The NY SAFE Act defines assault weapons as semi-automatic pistols and rifles with detachable magazines and one military-style feature, and semi-automatic shotguns with one military-style feature.<ref name="NYSAFEAct-PR" />

In [[Illinois]], proposed legislation in 2013 would have defined the term "semi-automatic assault weapon" as any semi-automatic firearm able to accept a detachable magazine, but it was never brought to a vote.<ref>Acevedo, Edward J. (January 4, 2013). [http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/97/SB/PDF/09700SB2899ham001.pdf Amendment to Senate Bill 2899], Illinois General Assembly web site. Retrieved January 18, 2013. "In this Section: "Semi-automatic assault weapon" means: ... (C-2) a semi-automatic rifle or a pistol with the capacity to accept a detachable magazine, a muzzle brake, or muzzle compensator..."</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Fails Again, Votes Not There For Passage In Lame-Duck Session |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/illinois-assault-weapons-_n_2425062.html |work=The Huffington Post |date=January 7, 2013 |quote= State Rep. Brandon Phelps, a Harrisburg Democrat, called the bill "too broad" as it applied to too many different types of guns, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |access-date=January 9, 2013}}</ref> The Illinois State Rifle Association said most of the state's firearms owners owned one or more guns that would have been banned under the proposal.<ref name=Chakraborty130103>{{cite news |last=Chakraborty |first=Barnini |date=January 3, 2013 |title=Firearms Groups Fight Sweeping Illinois Gun Ban, Dems Weigh Options |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/firearms-groups-fight-sweeping-illinois-gun-ban-dems-weigh-options/ |publisher=Fox News Channel |access-date=January 5, 2013}}</ref> The NRA said the proposal would have restricted about 75 percent of handguns and 50 percent of long guns in circulation.<ref name=Chakraborty130103/> As municipalities, [[Chicago]] and [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] bans certain firearms defined as assault weapons and have no provision for legal possession of firearms owned before their laws were passed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Illinois/chicago_il/title8offensesaffectingpublicpeacemorals/chapter8-20weapons?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:chicago_il$anc=JD_8-20-075 |title=Municipal Code of Chicago – Title 8, Chapter 8-20, Article III., Section 170 – Unregisterable firearms |publisher=American Legal Publishing Corporation |access-date=January 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213045212/http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Illinois/chicago_il/title8offensesaffectingpublicpeacemorals/chapter8-20weapons?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:chicago_il$anc=JD_8-20-075 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://library.municode.com/HTML/13805/level4/PTIGEOR_CH54LIPEMIBURE_ARTIIIDEWEDE_DIV4BLHOASWEBA.html |title=Cook County, Illinois, Code of Ordinances – Part I, Chapter 54, Article III, Division 4 – Blair Holt Assault Weapons Ban |publisher=Library.municode.com |access-date=January 27, 2013}}</ref> [[Minnesota]] also defines certain firearms as assault weapons and regulates their sales.<ref name=CQR130308/> The [[Washington (state)|State of Washington]] defines any semi-automatic rifle (except antiques), regardless of features, caliber, or magazine type, as a "semiautomatic assault rifle".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.010|title=RCW 9.41.010: Definitions. (Effective until January 1, 2025.)|website=app.leg.wa.gov}}</ref>