Assault Weapon

An assault weapon is designed to carry out an assault; that is to say, to attack other human beings. It's not a defensive weapon. You can't tuck it under your pillow at night or throw it in the closet and bring it out when you think you hear a bugler downstairs. You can't hunt game with it. You can't target or skeet shoot with it. You can't conceal it under your coat or stash in the glove box of the car. You can only do one thing with it: open fire on large groups of people. You can use it to shoot up your place of business or spray a city block with bullets or murder children at a school or get in a shoot out with the police. It was created to take life quickly and easily and in large numbers. It was not built to save or protect life. It is a dangerous item in anyone's hand, even in the hands of someone who purchases it with the best of intentions; even in the hands of trained military personnel. It is not something anyone should walk down the street carrying openly or should be allowed to carry openly. It is not something to be placed on the table or slung around your shoulder at McDonald's while you finish your happy meal. It is not freedom. It is not liberty. It is naked power.  It is control and destruction. It is death waiting to happen. It is the tragic ending to a slippery slope argument.