this post was submitted on 28 Jan 2024
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[–] PP_BOY_ -3 points 10 months ago (3 children)

This is a new one. I've never seen anyone but the least educated claim that ARs aren't assault rifles. Automatic, sure, but there's no definition of assault rifle that doesn't include an AR.

[–] themeatbridge 16 points 10 months ago

Assault rifles, by definition, have select fire capabilities. Commercially available civilian AR-15 is semi-auto single fire only. People are often confused by the AR designation, but that stands for Armalite, the original manufacturer of the rifles. They are officially called "assault-style" rifles, although that term isn't very popular because it seems like a minor quibble. In all other measures (shorter rifle, intermediate cartridge, detachable box magazine, range of 300 meters) the AR-15 meets the criteria to be called an "assault rifle," except for the select-fire.

It's worth mentioning that many popular models can be easily modified by a competent gunsmith to add burst and/or full auto firing. It's illegal, but that doesn't stop a terrorist who thinks they are going to need their rifle to join the insurrection. At that point it would be an assault rifle.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago

Internet comments are crazy. AR15s are semi auto. The first 3 definitions I found would not include an AR15.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_rifle

https://www.britannica.com/technology/assault-rifle

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assault%20rifle - this second definition includes semi auto rifles however

[–] ForgotAboutDre -2 points 10 months ago

The AR-15 defined assault rifles in a way. Outside of experimental weapons. Most countries that use assault rifles are based on the AR-15, the cheaper to licence AR-18 or the Soviet response to the American AR-15/M16.