A lesson in Assault Rifles and Weapons.

I think before people go off halfcocked, (How is that for using a gun reference?), they should learn something about guns. Assault rifles have been banned for sale to civilians in the US since 1934. Please if you are going to talk get your facts straight. An assault rifle is a select-fire (either fully automatic or burst capable) rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. It is not to be confused with assault weapons.[1] Assault rifles are the standard service rifles in most modern armies. Assault rifles are categorized in between light machine guns, which are intended more for sustained automatic fire in a light support role, and submachine guns, which fire a pistol cartridge rather than a rifle cartridge. Examples of assault rifles include the StG 44, AK-47,[2] M16 rifle, QBZ-95, INSAS, Heckler & Koch G36, and Enfield SA80. The Bushmaster used at Newtown is not an assault rifle. It does not meet the legal definition of an assault rifle. In United States politics and law, an assault weapon is a variety of semi-automatic firearms that have certain features generally associated with military firearms, including assault rifles. The 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which expired on September 13, 2004, codified the definition of an assault weapon. It defined the rifle type of assault weapon as a semiautomatic firearm with the ability to accept a detachable magazine and two or more of the following:

1. a folding or telescoping stock

2. a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon

3. a bayonet mount

4. a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor

5. a grenade launcher

The politicians are saying that the 223 uses"especially deadly ammunition." These people writing these articles do not do there research, the 223 is far less powerful than the old 30-30 setting in every-bodies closet and isn't even in the same league as the 30-06. The 223 has muzzle energy of 1250 ft lbs, less than a lot of handguns, the old 30-30 has 2200 ft lb of energy. The 223 shoots a tiny 60 grain bullet, while a 30-30 shoots a 170 grain bullet. The 223 is illegal to hunt deer in many states because it is not powerful enough to make a clean kill. The 30-06 shoots bullets ranging from 110 grain to 220 grain and has a maximum muzzle energy of 3200 ft lbs. In reality practically every gun used by deer hunters are at least 50% more powerful than the 223, which is anemic in terms of power.

Article by Ken Kjer PHD, SPHR, former police officer and firearms expert.