What is an assault weapon?

The Second Amendment and the NRA have been under attack since the theater shooting in Colorado.

The tragedy was nothing but horrible. To think another human could open fire, fatally shooting 12 and wounding 58 others, is impossible to comprehend.

As outdoorsmen, we must remember that anytime something as horrific as this happens, it will effect our sport. Whether you are a hunter, sporting clay shooter or a competition shooter, those who are anti-gun revive their campaign to restrict or abolish our rights. There are those in government and the private sector who think they can protect you by disarming you. Today, there's an outcry to ban assault weapons.

So just what is an assault weapon?

An assault weapon is a military look-a-like. An AR-15 is a so called assault weapon. Just as is a AK-47, civilian kind is a semi automatic. The AR-15 looks like an M16, which is full auto. Politicians like to demonize the look-a likes as assault weapons used on the battlefield but military weapons are full auto. They also can have large capacity magazines.

Politicians have said these weapons need to be on the battlefield, not our streets. You might or might not agree with this, but the Second Amendment guarantees our right to keep and bear arms. It does not state what guns can or cannot be possessed.

A coworker asked me why anyone could need an AR-15? An AR-15 is used in competition shooting, like at Camp Perry in Port Clinton. Yes, it can be used for varmint hunting, too.

The point is my coworker is a deer hunter and only sees what he uses in his sport. Some clay target shooters have the same viewpoint -- nobody is going to take my shotgun.

Ask the people of Great Britain and Australia what they will take. The answer is just about everything. The governments banned private ownership of all firearms in Great Britain and a very limited, if you can prove you need one, in Australia.

Another argument by politicians is no one needs to have as much ammunition as the Colorado shooter had. How can they decide what is too much, 50 rounds, 100 rounds? Let us be reasonable. How about prosecuting the criminals to the fullest degree, instead of those of us who are responsible gun owners?

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What is an assault weapon?