Media Resource on So-Called “Assault Weapons”
gengberg November 21st, 2008
MEDIA ADVISORY
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Date: November 21, 2008
Contact: Ted Novin, 203-426-1320, tnovin@nssf.org
TO: All Media
FROM: National Shooting Sports Foundation
SUBJECT: Media Resource On So-called “Assault Weapons”
Over the last several weeks, hundreds of stories have appeared nationwide about increasing firearm sales due to gun owners’ concerns that President-elect Obama and a Democrat-controlled Congress will pass legislation limiting the Second Amendment rights of Americans.
Visit NSSF’s Media Resource page:
Background Information on
So-called “Assault Weapons”
Firearms retailers report that many firearm customers are interested in buying semi-automatic rifles that have a military look to them. There is much confusion among the public and the media about how these rifles function and about their legitimate uses for target shooting and hunting. Often incorrectly referred to as semi-automatic “assault weapons,” they are the type of firearms that President-elect Obama has indicated he would seek to ban by making permanent the expired 1994 so-called “assault weapons” ban.
To help promote accurate reporting about these commonplace semi-automatic firearms, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has produced a media resource page located on the NSSF.org Web site in the Media Resources section at http://nssf.org/media/FactSheets/Semi-Auto_Background.cfm. There are helpful videos that explain the difference between fully automatic military and semi-automatic military look-alike rifles, and a Q&A section. Of course, NSSF spokespersons are always available to assist media with their questions.
Few media stories have explained the difference between true fully automatic military assault rifles and the politically labeled, so-called “assault rifle.” A true assault rifle — the M-16 and AK-47 are examples — is a fully automatic military weapon capable of continuous firing as long as the trigger is depressed, like a machine gun. Automatic firearms were severely restricted from civilian ownership by the 1934 National Firearms Act. By comparison, the politically labeled so-called “assault rifle”– the AR-15 is an example — looks like its military counterpart but functions only as a semi-automatic, firing just one round with each pull of the trigger, similar to many deer rifles and shotguns used to break clay targets. These semi-automatic rifles can be purchased and owned by civilians who pass the standard FBI background check. Although it has a modern military look, the semi-automatic rifle’s operation is very different from a military machine gun and, in fact, is based on 100-year-old technology. It is NOT a “machine gun,” but those who would ban it would have you think so.
These semi-automatic rifles are driving the market for firearm sales because they are a relatively new product that provides owners with a durable and reliable firearm. These rifles are used for target shooting, varmint hunting and deer hunting, as well as being an option for home defense.
We invite media to make use of the NSSF resource page.
Thank you.
