A few years ago, our government passed the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, more commonly known as the 1994 Crime Bill. This law "restricts the manufacture, transfer, and possession of certain 'Semiautomatic Assault Weapons'." (AN OXYMORON IN ITSELF, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT PREACHING TO THE CHOIR.) So what, you say, is a "Semiautomatic Assault Weapon"? The law (Section 921 (a) (30), Title 18 U.S.C.) defines it as so: Any of the firearms, or copies or duplicates of the firearms in any caliber, known as; Norinco, Mitchell, Poly Technologies, Avtomat Kalashinikovs. Action Arms Israeli Military Industries UZI, Galil. Beretta Ar70 (SC-70). Colt AR-15 Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR, FNC. SWD M-10, M-11, M-11-9, M-12. Steyr AUG. Intratec TEC-9, TEC-DC9, TEC-22. Revolving cylinder shotguns, such as (or similar to) the Street Sweeper and Striker 12. [*]Any semiautomatic rifle that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of the following features: a folding or telescoping stock. a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon. a bayonet mount. a flash suppressor or a threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor. a grenade launcher. [*]A semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of the following features: an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip. a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip or silencer. a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand without being burned. a manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded. a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm. [*]A semiautomatic shotgun that has at least 2 of the following features: a folding or telescoping stock. a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon. a fixed magazine capacity in excess of 5 rounds. an ability to accept a detachable magazine. http://www.ar15.com/content/legal/preORpost.html