Defining “Assault Weapons”

Responsible regulation requires accurate definition. For example, when we discuss regulations for “handguns,” everyone understands the type of gun at issue. In contrast, “assault weapon” has no fixed meaning. Unlike handguns, “assault weapons” have no common characteristics. Different pieces of legislation purporting to address “assault weapons” have variously covered the following types of arms: Some air guns and paintball guns. These guns use compressed air or carbon dioxide to shoot a BB, a small pellet, or a paintball marker. They are not firearms, because they do not use gunpowder. Some of them fire semi-automatically. That is, after pressing the trigger to release one shot, the user can press the trigger for another shot, without needing to take an additional step, such as moving a lever, slide, or bolt. A 1990 New Jersey statute outlawed semiautomatic air and paintball guns as “assault weapons.” However, a…

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