With the consistent occurrence of mass shootings and firearm violence, the topic of gun control remains a controversial issue in modern American society. A subfaction of this conversation is the role assault weapons play in the overall loss of life attributed to gun violence, and whether or not these types of firearms are protected under the second amendment. While both sides of this debate hold valid arguments, due to their intense militaristic capabilities and frequent role in mass shoots, a ban on all assault weapons should be enacted.
The first problem that arises when discussing assault weapons is the fact that there is no definitive definition of what classifies as an assault weapon. The most general description is any weapon with “high ammunition capacity and enhanced control during rapid fire (XXx)”. They can be either automatic or semiautomatic, although automatic firearms have been banned from civilian use since the Firearms Owners’ Protection Act of 1986(XXX). Semiautomatic
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Under this bill it was “unlawful for a person to manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon”(SSSS). While this bill was created to combat gun violence, it remained too vague to be effective, allowing for gun companies to exploit several loopholes within the bill. By changing one or two features of a firearm and replacing with very similar features, many guns outlawed under this act were able to remain legal SSS. The bill also used a grandfather clause, making any guns purchased before the passing of the bill legal and able to remain in circulation. In addition, the bill focused more on appearance than merit, placing emphasis on weapons that looked more dangerous and military like rather than their actual destructive capabilities. This gun banned with this gun stayed