An assault weapon is any various automatic or semiautomatic firearm. Therefore, any assault rifles such as the AK 74, AK 47, AK 12, AK 5, or any weapon under the same category are classified as assault weapons.
Assault weapons are the most commonly used weapons in mass shootings and massacres. October 1, 2017, Stephen Paddock killed 58 people from the 32nd floor of a hotel, 23 firearms were later recovered in his hotel room. September 5, 1949, Howard Unruh killed 13 people as he walks down Camden’s 32nd Street, 1 firearm was used. June 12, 2016, Omar Siddiqui Mateen killed 49 people and injured 50 others, at Pulse nightclub, 2 firearms were used. Assault weapons were originally designed to defend the government’s armed forces. Although, assault weapons have been more commonly used in murderous and dreadful situations than defense situations. The situations that assault weapons have been used to have evolved because they are easier to be purchased by a private citizen. This is why the production, sale, and possession of assault weapons for private citizens should be banned in the U.S.
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They used 4 guns, which were illegally accumulated from Robyn Anderson and Mark Manes. The Violence Policy Center states that Robyn’s transaction was considered an illegal “straw purchase”, which is when someone purchases a gun for someone else. Mark Manes transaction was also considered illegal because he sold a gun to people he knew were too young to buy a gun. The two shooters, who were underage, were able to accumulate these guns easily and efficiently, which is why private citizens should not be able to buy and sell assault