Hello to my friends who are talking about firearms -- can we please get a few things accurate? Because, I tell ya, when I see people get terms and nomenclature inaccurate, it tells me you are going by a knee-jerk reaction. The two big ones: automatic & assault weapons.

And please -- this thread is meant to educate my friends who often use these terms wrong. I'm NOT trying to convince you one way or the other on the topic of gun control. I have my opinion, but in this thread, that's not what's important.

A weapon with an automatic action means that when you pull the trigger and hold it, it will fire multiple rounds until you release the trigger.

A weapon capable of firing a set number of multiple rounds per trigger pull fires in 'burst.' The M16-A2 is an example of this.

A weapon that fires a single round each time you pull the trigger is a semi-automatic. This is a very popular style of firearm and currently, readily available to most citizens in the U. S.

Automatic and burst weapons -- not completely illegal, however:

To legally own automatic/burst weapons, you need to have certain certifications from a number of organizations AND it has to have been manufactured before 1986. There are all kinds of hoops you have to go through to own one of these weapons.

To own a semi-auto, you need to pass a background check (in most cases, and it should be all).

Assault weapon is a term often used to indicate physical features of a weapon (often referred to as the 'furniture'). This can include -- but not limited to -- specific styles of handguards, butt stocks, magazines, pistol grips, etc.

In many cases, the action, trigger assembly, magazine, receiver, and barrel can be moved from one platform to another and go from a plain ol' every day firearm to a spooky "assault rifle." This is not true of ALL weapons, but it can be done.

Here's the thing, especially for my anti-gun friends -- if you're talking to someone who has a background in firearms and use the terms wrong, you'll be dismissed as a libtard (most likely will be regardless, but, you'll be in the fight longer).

Don't fall into the traps such as the AR in AR-15 means assault rifle. It is a designator by the Armalite Corporation who developed it.

Magazines are not clips. Magazines are inserted into the weapons; clips hold the rounds to be loaded into the magazine.

And here's the tough one -- when discussing things, be respectful in your disagreement. Don't be combative. That just gets everyone defensive and no one listens. Know what the current laws are and know the terms.

/end