Robert Hawkins SKS Assault Rifle

Actually, assault weapons are defined by their rate of fire (they are fully-automatic). You are talking about ASSAULT WEAPONS, which are a group of weapons defined by being semi-automatic with a magazine capacity of +10 rounds, and one or more of the following: pistol grip, forward grip, flash suppressor, bayonet lug, barrel shroud.

Acually,

An ak47 is an assult rifle in its fully or semi-auto versions. My point was, which you missed, was that there is too much talk about the definition of fully or semi-automatic weapons. In other words "what Ever". These senseless murders could have been prevented if the owner of the weapon took the time and spent 10 dollars for a trigger lock. And didn't store the ammo, mags and rifle all together.

These definitions of both terms are provided by Merriam-websters dictionary.

Main Entry: assault rifle Function: noun Date: 1972

: any of various automatic or semiautomatic rifles with large capacity magazines designed for military use

Main Entry:

assault weapon Function: noun Date: 1973
: any of various automatic or semiautomatic firearms; especially : assault rifle

Mark1974 -

I respectfully disagree with your thoughts.  You suggest that senseless crimes such as this could be prevented if the owner of the firearm locked the firearm up and stored the ammunition and magazines in a different location.  To a very small degree - I see your point - but there is a bigger picture.

The deranged individual involved with this sickening crime was apparently intent on killing completely innocent people and then committing suicide. 

I doubt, very seriously, that a $10 gun lock would have detered a determined individual for more than 5 minutes.

Are you proposing that there be a law that requires firearm owners to keep their firearms locked up at all times?

While Webster usually has the final word in these matters, I have to disagree this time. It's clear that the term assault rifle has taken on a more broad definition in our society, and that is reflected in the current Webster's defiinition.

In truth, assault rifles have a very narrow definiton, they are full-auto  weapons firing intermediate rounds (rifle caliber with smaller casings). If a rifle is not capable of firing full-auto, then it cannoot be an assault rifle! Call said weapon an "assault weapon" if you must, but to call a semi-automatic rifle an assault rifle is to admit either ignorance or agenda.