The U.S. Army defines assault rifles as "short, compact, selective-fire weapons that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between submachine gun and rifle cartridges."
In a strict definition, a firearm must have at least the following characteristics to be considered an assault rifle:
It must be capable of selective fire.
It must have an intermediate-power cartridge: more power than a pistol but less than a standard rifle or battle rifle.
Its ammunition must be supplied from a detachable box magazine.
It must have an effective range of at least 300 metres (330 yards).
Rifles that meet most of these criteria, but not all, are technically not assault rifles, despite frequently being called such. Select-fire M2 Carbines are not assault rifles; their effective range is only 200 yards.
Select-fire rifles such as the FN FAL battle rifle are not assault rifles; they fire full-powered rifle cartridges.
Semi-automatic-only rifles like variants of the Colt AR-15 are not assault rifles; they do not have select-fire capabilities nor would a .223 calibre be effective at 300 metres. AR does not signify "assault rifle" or "automatic rifle."
It is the Initials of the manufacturer ArmaLite, which dates back to 1952.
Semi-auto rifles with fixed magazines like the SKS are not assault rifles; they do not have detachable box magazines and are not capable of automatic fire.
People who know nothing about firearms were the ones making our gun laws.
Those who are afraid of firearms are usually also ignorant as to their use and operation. Being afraid of something is not a prerequisite for removal from society. Owning or collecting firearms is about freedom.
The power to make laws regarding firearms has now been handed over to the RCMP who are not an elected body.
In Nazi Germany they called it the Schutzstaffel or SS which literally means "Protection Squadron."
I see a similarity.
Mike Hawryluk,
Prince George
