In an article entitled A glossary of gun terminology I found an interesting tidbit.
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Assault Weapons – The Associated Press Stylebook recommends using assault weapons to describe civilian versions of military assault rifles. Here’s their distinction:
- “An assault weapon is the civilian version of the military carbine with a similar appearance. This gun is semi-automatic, meaning one shot per trigger pull. Ammunition magazines ranging from 10 to 30 rounds or more allow rapid-fire capability. Other common characteristics include folding stock, muzzle flash suppressor, bayonet mount and pistol grip.”
Source: http://www.copyediting.com/updates-ap-style-announced-aces-2013
- “An assault weapon is the civilian version of the military carbine with a similar appearance. This gun is semi-automatic, meaning one shot per trigger pull. Ammunition magazines ranging from 10 to 30 rounds or more allow rapid-fire capability. Other common characteristics include folding stock, muzzle flash suppressor, bayonet mount and pistol grip.”
Even if you don’t work for the Associated Press, most jobs in journalism will expect you to write following the guidelines of the AP Stylebook, for example, the term “illegal alien” is now out according to those censors:
Illegal immigration. AP advises avoiding illegal immigrant because it is the action that is illegal, not the person. The stylebook advises using illegal immigration instead. Illegal immigrant is a loaded term, one that we suggest avoiding, unless controversy is the goal. – See more at: http://www.copyediting.com/updates-ap-style-announced-aces-2013#sthash.dzRNgYoV.dpuf
Well, the person is committing an illegal action. If someone is convicted of rape, we call him a rapist. If he’s just arrested, we say “alleged-rapist,” thus the same logic applies to illegal aliens unless you’re trying to please the illegal alien lobby.
Because I’m a blogger, I can pretty much use whatever term I want. That’s why I prefer the term Tactical Rifle. “Assault” after all is an action, not a weapon. If I drop a piano on your head, they won’t call them Assault Pianos. If I beat you with a bat, I didn’t use an Assault Bat.