i never thought id hear the term "assault rifle" actually used to describe a semi-automatic rifle on a firearms forum... i know this is off-topic, but i cant stand when people refer to a sporting rifle as an assault rifle. (its like calling a flint-lock rifle a semi-automatic rifle)
OK, I hear what your saying, and not trying to get off topic either but... A civillian model AK-47 7.62 rifle is considered a sporting rifle by who? I admit my ignorance on this. Is it defined by law as such? Or is that the generally accepted term? I am a pistol guy and I know I sound uninformed, but I understand that the design of the weapon, semi-auto or otherwise is still for combat, just because its fun to shoot doesn't mean it is a sporting firearm. If I am completely wrong and off base please let me know. And the comparison of flint-lock and semi-auto is a little extreme there. A rifle designed for combat, used by several nations as a primary assault weapon, regardless of what is written on the box or price tag is still designed for the purpose of combat. If you clip a ducks wings so it can't fly is it no longer a duck? I understand the use of "assault rifle" on this forum will propably ellicit quite a few winces and groans, but I used the term in referance to what the general public sees and hears, whether right or wrong. I would love to live in a country where every person born is trained in gun handling, safety, and identification, but look at this side of it. If G22Paddy had a run in with LEO's, regardless of whether he was in the right, (Don't want 100's of replys defending him, I know it wasn't illegal) and it ended up in the news, the term assault rifle would probably have been used. I am not saying the media is correct, but they would have a field day with it. Carrying an easily recognized semi-automatic rifle in public, stating it's your right to defend yourself, would kind of shoot yourself in the foot, pun intended, public opinion wise. The sheeples would wonder what a firearm like that was going to defend you from. Public opinion is still important, I think. Knowledge and understanding by the sheeples means more support for us. I think our exposure recently has been nothing but positive, one big fiasco with a sporting AK-47 could really hurt the fight for more gun laws in OUR favor. Maybe I'm just blowing smoke, I don't know, but I think we are on the right path, fighting the good fight so to speak, and I want it to stay that way.