Rifle assault

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)... 

Trix glanced at the impassive guard standing in the corner. He was holding the assault rifle with an earnestness that seemed excessive for the task. Trix didn t doubt for one minute that he d use it if she gave him the slightest excuse. 

Vasily had no idea how far they walked, he and the girl. The streets jumped by in dizzying snapshots as his consciousness faded in and out. But at a quiet street corner a van pulled up and a man he d never met gestured him to the rear where he climbed in, joined the other men and women on board and took possession of a Kalashnikov assault rifle. 

The future-soldier spared him the most contemptuous of glances. Just before clubbing his jaw with the butt of the assault rifle. Between the spin of stars, Fitz saw the future-soldier half-staggering and half-running, away towards the front of the convoy. 

Not the Colonel. Trix glanced right to take in a pair of starved eyes and hawkish nose, then felt the barrel of an assault rifle jab her ribs. 

Proponents will describe special combat firing techniques, relate tales of hits at incredible distances and swear that the SMG has rendered the autopistol and light assault rifle obsolete. 

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. 

Ralph could imagine the officer s surprise. He d undergone it himself back on Lalonde as the awful realization struck. He stood up from behind the parapet on top of the tunnel entrance, and lifted the heavy-calibre recoilless rifle. Targeting graphics flipped up over his helmet s sensor image. He fired at an assault mechanoid. 

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. 

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