“Assault rifle” is not a description used by the military or anyone else that knows anything about firearms. It is a word created by our politicians. These rifles are simply semiautomatic weapons, just like most rifles and handguns. The laws defining them mention flash suppressors, pistol grips and bayonet lugs, all features that have nothing to do with fire power or dangerousness. The only feature that comes close to dangerousness is the magazine capacity but given the fact that an empty magazine can be replaced in about three seconds, this too is meaningless. Banning assault rifles in order to prevent mass shootings is like banning all cars that are painted red in an attempt to eliminate speeding.