What is an Assault Weapon?
We all know “assault weapon” is a loaded term cooked up by the anti-gun crowd. No need to hammer that point home, you’re preaching to the choir here. But lately, we’ve been flooded with messages and emails from folks trying to wrap their heads around what exactly these bans are targeting. And honestly, it’s a hot mess.
Between two stand alone bills, H5436 in the House and S0359, which the Senate just introduced on Friday, February 21st, and the Governor’s budget proposal with its own version of the ban (H5076 Art 11), the confusion is real.
What’s even more surprising? We’re hearing from some gun owners who think these bills aren’t as bad as they seem. We emphatically disagree. This isn’t just another regulation, it’s the most egregious assault on our Second Amendment rights this year, and they’re pushing hard to get it though.
So, we did some heavy lifting and dug into each proposal. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of how THEY are defining an “assault weapon” in the proposed legislation.
We’ve color-coded the chart for easier reading: Yellow cells indicate the least restrictive wording for that particular item.
AWB Bill Comparison
| Feature Listed in the Bill: | Senate Bill S0359 | Governor's Budget | House Bill H5436 |
| Semi-Auto Shotguns | |||
| Fixed Magazine Capacity | More than 6 rounds | More than 8 rounds | More than 6 rounds |
| Ability to accept or be modified to accept Detachable Magazine. | NA | Yes (Single Feature Qualifies) | NA |
| Ability to accept or be modified to accept Detachable Magazine (PLUS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FEATURES LISTED BELOW) | Yes | NA | Yes |
| Folding/Telescoping/Detachable Stock | Yes | Yes (Single Feature Qualifies) | Yes |
| Pistol Grip/Thumbhole Stock | Yes | No | Yes |
| Grenade Launcher | No | Yes (Single Feature Qualifies) | No |
| Protruding Grip for non-firing hand | Yes | No | Yes |
| Any Shotgun | |||
| Revolving Cylinder | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Semi-Auto Rifles | |||
| Fixed Magazine Capacity More than 10 Rounds | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ability to accept or be modified to accept Detachable Magazine (PLUS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FEATURES LISTED BELOW) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Folding/Telescoping/Detachable Stock (Rifles) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bayonet Mount (Rifles) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Grenade Launcher (Rifles) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shroud That Surrounds the Barrel (Rifles) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pistol Grip/Thumbhole Stock (Rifles) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Flash Suppressor (Rifles) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Threaded Barrel (Rifles) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Exclusion for .22 Caliber Rimfire Tubular Magazines | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Semi- Auto Pistols | |||
| Fixed Magazine Capacity More than 10 Rounds | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ability to accept or be modified to accept Detachable Magazine (PLUS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FEATURES LISTED BELOW) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Magazine Located outside the Pistol Grip | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Threaded Barrel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shroud Around Barrel (Excluding the Slide) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unloaded Weight of 50 oz. or More | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Buffer Tube Army Brace, Other Part the Protrudes behind the Pistol Grip Designed or can be Designed for Shoulder Firing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Misc | |||
| Belt-Fed Firearms | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Firearms Modified to be an Assault Weapon | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Combination Parts in Posession That Can Be Assembled into an Assault Weapon | Yes | Yes | Yes |
NOTE: If you have any corrections please contact us so we can update.
So, there you have it, the clearest comparison of these bills we could put together. They differ slightly, but the goal is the same: strip away your inalienable rights by banning firearms based on arbitrary features dreamed up by politicians who know nothing about firearms.
Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or just trying to keep up, knowing what’s at stake is the first step to fighting back. The next step? Disaffiliate so we can vote in the primary.
Disaffiliation Campaign
If you are unaware of the ongoing disaffiliation campaign get more info here
