Assault weapons rifles

Do the semiautomatic rifles and handguns commonly called assault weapons play a significant part in crime Do such weapons have any legitimate uses ... 

The term assault -weapon can be confusing. Originally, it was a military term for a fully automatic rifle (such as the M-16) that could also be fired in short bursts. The purpose of these weapons (first introduced by the Germans in World War II and quickly adopted by the Soviets in the form of the AK-47), is primarily to give an infantry soldier enough firepower to cover an assault on an enemy position. 

In 1989 the city council of Cleveland, Ohio, passed an ordinance banning assault weapons —basically, semiautomatic rifles or shotguns with high-capacity magazines. Harry W. Arnold and others appealed to the courts to overturn this law as being unconstimtional. 

According to the court The ordinance defines assault weapon as any one of thirty-four specific rifles, three specific shotguns and nine specific pistols, or [ojther models by the same manufacturer with the same action design that have slight modifications or enhancements. ... The plaintiffs claimed that because the law referred only to specific models by specific manufac-mrers (or possible future models by the same manufacturers), it was an un-constimtional bill of attainder. (A bill of attainder is a law that punishes specific individuals without trial.) The plaintiffs also argued that the law was unconstitutionally vague. 

The 1980s introduces deadlier weapons to America s streets, including such semiautomatic pistols as the Clock and Tec-9 and, to a lesser extent, semiautomatic ( assault ) rifles such as the AK-47. Media exposure to such weapons in drug- and gang-related violence helps to spur support for gun control in general and a ban on semiautomatic assault weapons in particular. 

AK-47 Also known as Kalashnikov, named for its orginator, it is an originally Soviet-built automatic rifle that is used widely throughout the world in insurgencies and other conflicts. An AK-47 is regulated (and often banned) as an assault weapon. 

M-16 rifle A fully automatic military assault rifle, similar to a machine gun. This version is generally banned for civilian use. Similar rifles configured for semiautomatic firing are subject to assault weapons regulations. 

Farrell, Lawrence R, Jr. Assault on the Small Arms Industrial Base. National Defeme, vol. 86, February 2002, p. 4. Suggests that gun control efforts or lawsuits that directly or indirectly target small arms manufacturers threaten the supply of weapons to the military. A case in point has been recent efforts to ban the. 50 caliber sniper rifle, even though this type of weapon has not been linked to criminal activity. 

Little David . The latter weapon used a shell with pre-engraved band(Ref 12,pp 172-3)- As examples of smooth-bore breech-loaders may be cited the 2-in Mortar of Brit design installed on some US tanks used during WWII and the 75mm Infantry Assault Mortar, M1923. As an example of rifled-bore breech-loaders may be cited the 12-in Seacoast Mortar, Model 1890, which is now obsolete(Refs 20 21)... 

The group has historically used improvised devices for its attacks, including gas canisters filled with explosives. However, FARCs also maintains a fairly sophisticated smuggling network of assault rifles that accesses illegal weapons supplies in both Central and South America. Finally, FARCs has also reportedly attempted to acquire man-portable surface-to-air missiles. If true, these weapons would help FARCs in its attacks on the Colombian military, especially against countemarcotics helicopters. 

Typical assaults on military and police personnel involve knives, firearms with both handgun and rifle bullets, and explosive devices that produce blast, fragmentation and heat. Additional attacks may come from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons or enviromnental hazards such as collisions in road traffic accidents and falling masomy. Knives, bullets, fragmentation and blast will be used here as examples. 

The first combat use of the flame thrower in the Southwest Pacific after Buna occurred on 15 December 1943 at Pilelo, a tiny island off the coast of New Britain. Troop B of the 112th Cavalry RCT had landed and was moving inland when the leading platoon was halted by fire from two caves. A bazooka quickly silenced one, but the other was so protected by log pilings as to be impervious to both bazooka and machine gun fire. The troop commander then organized an assault party with a flame thrower as its principal weapon. While rifle and automatic weapons fire covered the cave, the flame thrower operator worked his way up and fired his entire charge into the entrance. The rest of the party then rushed the position with hand grenades. When... 

The preinvasion preparations of the three Marine divisions earmarked for Iwo included work with both the portable and the mechanized flame throwers. For the smaller weapon this preparation consisted mostly of integrating the flame throwers with the assault teams. It was 3d Marine Division policy to have in each of its battalions an assault platoon made up of 6 men from each rifle company and 2 men from the battalion headquarters company. These 20 men, specially trained in the use of flame throwers, rocket launchers, and demolitions, were placed under the immediate control of the battalion commander. The commander in turn could attach the whole platoon, or a part of it, to his assault companies as the situation required. Other Marine divisions devised similar platoons. Regiments of the 4th Marine Division organized 3 9-man platoons which were attached to each battalion landing team. Squads from these platoons were then assigned to companies for specific missions. ... 

Assault teams, usually armed with rifles, automatic rifles, bazookas, and antitank grenades, saw a great deal of action against dugouts and fortified houses. Flame throwers were seldom added to this armament because a bazooka shell or antitank grenade fired through a window or door usually sufficed. Pillbox-type fortifications impervious to more conventional weapons, however, were considered appropriate targets for flame throwers. ... 

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