It seems as though everywhere we turn there are new reports and stories about so-called "assault- weapons." Last week the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence released a report on "assault weapons," while just yesterday the Orlando Sentinel published a special report declaring, "AK-47s, other military-style assault weapons and expensive handguns have become so common that cops across the state routinely encounter suspects equipped for urban warfare, complete with 75-shot magazines and bulletproof vests."
We all know this is just one example where the mainstream media is spreading misleading information about "assault weapons" that feeds the public's fear and confusion over what these everyday firearms are -- or more aptly, are not. So, let's clear this up right now:
So-called "assault weapons" are not "machine guns" and do not "spray" bullets as is so often alleged. Machine guns have been heavily regulated and virtually banned since the 1934 National Firearms Act. "Assault weapons" are simply semi-automatic firearms that function no differently than any other semi-automatic firearm (only one shot is fired when the trigger is pulled). These guns have been legally owned and lawfully used by civilians for over a century for target shooting, hunting, self protection and collecting. Politicians, however, have sought to ban semi-automatic firearms as "assault weapons" based on cosmetic features that have nothing to do with the way the firearm functions. That is like banning a car based on its hood ornament.
It's also important to note that federal studies, including a 2003 study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), prove the "assault weapons" ban did nothing to reduce crime. This study, by a government agency that could hardly be considered pro-gun, hasn't stopped groups like the Brady Campaign and misinformed members of the media from misleading Americans into thinking the law was effective.
Both the Brady study and the Sentinel article point to a decline in the percentage of "assault weapons" traced by ATF in the years after the ban went into effect. Here's what they didn't tell you:
The number of "assault weapons" traced stayed relatively the same and it was only the number of total traces which increased dramatically (as ATF began encouraging "comprehensive tracing" or tracing of all guns that come in possession of law enforcement). So the decrease in percentage of "assault weapon" traces may be correct, but that does NOT mean that the actual number of "assault weapon" traces decreased -- a fact that should be of no surprise to anyone given the understanding that "assault weapons" are rarely used in crimes.
The gun-ban lobby understands that the confusion over what is and what is not an "assault weapon" only benefits them. This desire, when coupled with the mainstream media need for sensationalized stories, not only hurts industry and gun-owners, but also anyone looking for a straight answer on the subject.
We leave you with this quote from Josh Sugarmann of the Violence Policy Center: "The public's confusion over fully-automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons--anything that looks like a machine gun is presumed to be a machine gun--can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons."
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