States that allow assult-type rifles (ak-47s, ar-15s, etc)

[nasem]

Im just trying to gather information about ALL the states that do allow assult type weapons and those who don't.

I am from Michigan, and up here, we have no laws regarding the ownership of such guns....I currently own a Dragunov and a Bushmaster.

Im not sure, but I "think", California has some major restrictions on such weapons, infact, you can't even buy or have a weapon like that in CA.

What are everyone's state laws like, what states allow / disallow assult-type weapons ?

[nasem]

Here are more states that do not allow assult rifles

New York State, Massachusetts, and California

[Cheesehead]

In Wisconsin not only is possession legal, you can also hunt with them. No limit on the rounds they can hold. Barrel length must be at least 16" for hunting. All 22 center fires and up are legal for hunting big game.

Cheese

[CyberSniper]

Texas is ok also when it comes to the "evil assualt rifles".
They can be real handy when a herd of the accursed hawgs shows up too.

[DES]

Legal to own and hunt with in Missouri. You're limited to 10-rd mag capacity to hunt with though.

[victorcharlie]

The word weapon kind of bothers me.  Yea....the military made us use the word and from a military point of view my rifle was certainly a weapon......but my guns have never been used as a "weapon".

During my handgun carry class it was pointed out by the instructor that the anti gun crowd will bend words to suit them.  There is a movement by gun owners to stop using the word weapon and instead refer to the gun as a gun, rifle, pistol etc but not a weapon which works to give the gun "purpose".

To the anti-gun crowd every gun is a weapon.......

Am I off base to suggest that we work to make the people see a gun as a tool, which in the right hand (or wrong hand for that matter)....can be used as a weapon?

From Webster's dictionary a weapon is defined as:

Main Entry: 1weap·on
Pronunciation: 'we-p&n
Function: noun
1 : something (as a club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy
2 : a means of contending against another

This is probably insignificant but the impression that guns are evil might come from the thought that all guns are "weapons"......

[fknipfer]

I thought an assualt rifle had to have a lever for auto and semi-auto.  I wonder what is the difference in the laws.

fknipfer

[loaded4bear]

Here's what is probably the most comprehensive collection of state firearms laws available, including a breakdown of what states do & don't allow "assault weapons". Information is taken directly from the NRA's web site:

 "Assault weapons" are prohibited in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. Some local jurisdictions in Ohio also ban "assault weapons." Hawaii prohibits "assault pistols." California bans "assault weapons", .50BMG caliber firearms, some .50 caliber ammunition and "unsafe handguns." Illinois: Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, Morton Grove, Winnetka, Wilmette, and Highland Park prohibit handguns; some cities prohibit other kinds of firearms. Maryland prohibits "assault pistols"; the sale or manufacture of any handgun manufactured after Jan. 1, 1985, that does not appear on the Handgun Roster; and the sale of any handgun manufactured after January 1, 2003 that is not equipped with an "integrated mechanical safety device." Massachusetts: It is unlawful to sell, transfer or possess "any assault weapon or large capacity feeding device" [more than 10 rounds] that was not legally possessed on September 13, 1994 and the sale of handguns not on the Firearms Roster. The City of Boston has a separate "assault weapons" law. The District of Columbia prohibits new acquisition of handguns and any semi-automatic firearm capable of using a detachable ammunition magazine of more than 12 rounds capacity and any handgun not registered after February 5, 1977. Virginia prohibits "Street Sweeper" shotguns. (With respect to some of these laws and ordinances, individuals may retain prohibited firearms owned previously, with certain restrictions.) The sunset of the federal assault weapons ban does not affect the validity of state and local "assault weapons" bans.

http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/Default.aspx

[loaded4bear]

Here's a "summary" of the state statutes regarding "assault firearms" in my home state of NJ...confusing & disturbing at the same time!

"Assault firearm" means:

(1)The following firearms:

Algimec AGM1 type

Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder such as the "Street Sweeper" or "Striker 12"

Armalite AR-180 type

Australian Automatic Arms SAR

Avtomat Kalashnikov type semi-automatic firearms

Beretta AR-70 and BM59 semi-automatic firearms

Bushmaster Assault Rifle

Calico M-900 Assault carbine and M-900

CETME G3

Chartered Industries of Singapore SR-88 type

Colt AR-15 and CAR-15 series

Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1 and Max 2, AR 100 types

Demro TAC-1 carbine type

Encom MP-9 and MP-45 carbine types

FAMAS MAS223 types

FN-FAL, FN-LAR, or FN-FNC type semi-automatic firearms

Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12 shotguns

G3SA type

Galil type Heckler and Koch HK91, HK93, HK94, MP5, PSG-1

Intratec TEC 9 and 22 semi-automatic firearms

M1 carbine type

M14S type

MAC 10, MAC 11, MAC 11-9mm carbine type firearms

PJK M-68 carbine type

Plainfield Machine Company Carbine

Ruger K-Mini-14/5F and Mini-14/5RF

SIG AMT, SIG 550SP, SIG 551SP, SIG PE-57 types

SKS with detachable magazine type

Spectre Auto carbine type

Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48 type

Sterling MK-6, MK-7 and SAR types

Steyr A.U.G. semi-automatic firearms

USAS 12 semi-automatic type shotgun

Uzi type semi-automatic firearms

Valmet M62, M71S, M76, or M78 type semi-automatic firearms

Weaver Arm Nighthawk.

(2)Any firearm manufactured under any designation which is substantially identical to any of the firearms listed above.

(3)A semi-automatic shotgun with either a magazine capacity exceeding six rounds, a pistol grip, or a folding stock.

(4)A semi-automatic rifle with a fixed magazine capacity exceeding 15 rounds.

(5)A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault firearm, or any combination of parts from which an assault firearm may be readily assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person.

[jrnsuz]

us hicks in the stix out here in Missouri don't know nuthin' about all these fancy back east lawyer words. we just got our guns.

what is the" Handgun Roster " and exactly what is defined as an " assault weapon " ?

victorcharlie, i'm completely with you on this. in our 4-H club the "W" word gets you a 25 cent fine.

[BattleRifleG3]

The term "assault weapon" is redefined somebody wants to ban something.  Eventually they'll start calling your lever action 30-30s assault weapons.

Seriously, the definition of "assault weapon" is different for every single law.  Something that is an "assault weapon" in CA is not in NY.  Now that the federal ban is dead, some states, like my beloved PA, have no laws defining or banning "assault weapons."  Anything legal under federal law is legal in PA, with the exception of "explosive destructive devices", ie live grenades.  Other NFA firearms have to be owned in accordance with federal law.

[TreyAzagthoth]

bushmaster recently made a CA legal AR., i use to live in CA but i never had my guns there or anything, in TN i dont think they care about semi auto rifles with 10+ rounds of ammo. but i could be wrong

[DWTim]

You might also want to look into states where they do things like ban ammunition and reloading component sales. You can't even buy primers mail-order in some areas. There are also other kooky and senseless bans out there. In Connecticut, you cannot get a C&R handgun shipped to you, even if you have a C&R 03. You'd have to be FFL 01. That completely negates the common sense behind the C&R license. 

Here's a list of what is banned in Connecticut:

"Section 53-202a of the Connecticut General Statutes gives the definition, and an itemized list of what weapons are considered Assault Weapons.

Definition.  (1) Any selective-fire firearm capable of fully automatic, semiautomatic or burst fire at the option of the user or any of the following specified semiautomatic firearms:"

Algimec Agmi
Armalite AR-180
Australian Automatic Arms SAP Pistol
Auto-Ordnance Thompson type
Avtomat Kalashnikov AK-47 type
Barrett Light-Fifty model 82A1
Beretta AR-70; Bushmaster Auto Rifle and Auto Pistol
Calico models M-900, M-950 and 100-P
Chartered Industries of Singapore SR-88
Colt AR-15 and Sporter
Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max-1 and Max-2
Encom MK-IV, MP-9 and MP-45
Fabrique Nationale FN/FAL, FN/LAR, or FN/FNC
FAMAS MAS 223
Feather AT-9 and Mini-AT
Federal XC-900 and XC-450
Franchi SPAS-12 and LAW-12
Galil AR and ARM
Goncz High-Tech Carbine and High-Tech Long Pistol
Heckler & Koch HK-91, HK-93, HK-94 and SP-89
Holmes MP-83
MAC-10, MAC-11 and MAC-11 Carbine type
Intratec TEC-9 and Scorpion
Iver Johnson Enforcer model 3000
Ruger Mini-14/5F folding stock model only
Scarab Skorpion
SIG 57 AMT and 500 series
Spectre Auto Carbine and Auto Pistol
Springfield Armory BM59, SAR-48 and G-3
Sterling MK-6 and MK-7
Steyr AUG
Street Sweeper and Striker 12 revolving cylinder shotguns
USAS-12; UZI Carbine, Mini-Carbine and Pistol
Weaver Arms Nighthawk
Wilkinson "Linda" Pistol

or

A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a
firearm into an assault weapon, or any combination of parts from
which an assault weapon may be rapidly assembed if those parts
are in the possession or under the control of the same person.
[/i][/b]

Note that there was some dispute over what a "Kalashnikov AK-47 type" was. Those of us with common sense read it the Russian-made 7.62 one, i.e. the real deal. But, it basically means anything with an AK style action, and attempts to make it less ambiguous just made things worse. So we can't have SVDs, Krinkovs or knockoffs, or kits, or anything Mikhail Kalashnikov might have touched or looked at for several seconds.

It gets worse. Should I go on?

EDIT: I notice that none of these examples contain a legal definition of "assault weapon". It's always, "it does this", followed by a list. A list is BS. It either invites ambiguity, like how they ran roughshod over Connecticut shooters, or it's narrow and worthless, thereby a waste of law enforcement resources and likely ineffective. I mean, it's ineffective because it's done nothing to reduce the rising crime rate in this state, but you get my drift.

[Dee]

The legal definition of ASSUALT WEAPON is a rifle that is magazine fed and that will fire one shot with each pull of the trigger. Any rifle with a selector switch is either a MACHINE GUN or a SUB-MACHINE GUN depending on wheather it fires a rifle or pistol round.

[brasschaser]

The legal definition of ASSUALT WEAPON is a rifle that is magazine fed and that will fire one shot with each pull of the trigger. Any rifle with a selector switch is either a MACHINE GUN or a SUB-MACHINE GUN depending on wheather it fires a rifle or pistol round.

What???  Not sure where you came up with that, maybe from Feinstein's liberal dictionary.  You just described an autoloader or semi-automatic rifle.  Assault weapons, if you follow the true definition are select-fire firearms.  Germans first coined the term.  Now however, the liberal gun banners have run wild with the term and are using it improperly to sway public opinion and cast a negative shadow over our firearms.  They apply it to any gun that happens to look different or scary to them.  They started a war of misinformation with the term "assault weapon" to try and confuse the general public into thinking they only wanted to ban fully automatic rifles, and even showed footage of machine guns during news broadcasts to confuse everyone.  In Australia your duck hunting pump shotgun would be an "assault weapon" according to their insane laws! 

Don't fall for their propaganda and word-bending.  It also ticks me off when I hear people do things like call a semi-automatic "ak-style" rifle an AK-47.  It's the equivalent of calling an AR-15 an M-16.

Victorcharlie has it right on word usage. 

[DWTim]

Heh.

Actually, the legal definition of an "assault weapon" is anything that "we don't like the looks of". The real definition should be "any weapon that jumps up on its own accord and assaults someone." In that case, there would be no more "gun control".

[NYH1]

Wasn't a rifle considered an assault rifle under the federal ban if it was semiautomatic with a detachable magazine with two or more assault weapon features like a pistol grip, bayonet lug, flash hider, folding stock ect.?

I'm in New York and bought a brand new RRA AR-15 in 2003 with no problem at all. My rifle has a pistol grip (obviously) but doesn't have a bayonet lug or a flash hider and came with a 9 round magazine. I have to use pre-ban magazines which are still pretty easy to find.

The best part about buying this rifle was when I showed it to my dad. My mom was there and said "what do you need an assault rifle for". I said this isn't an assault rifle mom. She said "the AR in AR-15 stands for Assault Rifle so how can you say it's not an assault rifle". I said AR doesn't stand for assault rifle it stands for Armalite and it's not an assault rifle anymore the a semiautomatic hunting rifle.  She said "Oh". My moms not anti gun she just doesn't know to much about guns. She's like most people that aren't gun people, all they know is what they see on the news! 

[Kent]

Went to the range on Saturday 9-3-06. Got checked out by a Oklahoma Wildlife game ranger. Friend had a 30 round mag and was shooting very rapid fire with his Romania make AK. Not a word was said.
  I got out my new remington 750 (243 cal.)  and the ranger thought it was a 7400. It would shoot as fast as the AK, but not as many rounds. Very impressive was the reply. Oklahoma is OK. AK hung up on occasion using the cheap ball ammo. We were also shooting 30/06 in a old 1911 bolt action. I think Oklahomans are smart enough to know any of these rounds would be bad news if used improperly.

[Ridge Runner]

"Assault" is a verb, not an adjective. Never use that word to describe a rifle. 

[beavis]

Iowa has a bonus antlerless only season and in the bottom two tiers of counties centerfire rifles  of 24 caliber or larger may be used.  The restriction on semi autos is magazine of 5 rounds or less.  The actual gun is not restricted to my knowledge but the magazine must be 5 or less.  I have been told that an SKS with the magazine plugged to 5 rounds is legal.

[30-06man]

they are legal in south Carolina and north Carolina.

[BattleRifleG3]

"Assault" can be a verb or it can be a noun.

"Assault Rifle" is a compound noun invented as military terminology for an arm designed for standard issue that fires an intermediate powered cartridge and can be fired in both semi auto and full auto or burst mode.  This is to distinguish it in military terminology from battle rifles, standard issue arms firing full power rounds in semi-auto or select fire; submachineguns that fire pistol rounds in full auto or select fire; light and heavy machineguns, which fire sustained full-auto but are unsuitable for standard issue due to weight and size of gun and ammo.

"Assault weapon" is a made-up political terminology, and is constantly redefined and assigned at the whim of politicians.

My opinion on the use of the word "weapon" is that everything useful for hunting was designed as a weapon.  What people need to do is come to terms with that fact and accept the connection between sport hunting and the skills it maintains and defense of one's home and country.  If a high grade Winchester bolt action in 270 was the gun I was most comfortable operating and shooting accurately when hunting, that's the gun I would grab if I had to use it to protect life (which, in deadly conflict, unfortunately means taking life.)

[Mikey]

New York has a grandfather clause that allows you to hunt with an 'assault type' firearm if purchased prior to the state enacting the gun ban.  Hence, rifles like the  Rem 7400 and my Norinco NHM-91 are legal if purchased prior to the ban.

All that being said however does not prevent some EnCon yahoo from bustin' up your hunt while he checks to see if you are legal or some yo-yo from callin' the cops if he/she sees you dressed in camo headin' for the woods with something that looks 'assault-ish'.  Mikey.

[30-06man]

if a guns black. then its considered assult ish. stupid goverment

[Dee]

The term "assault weapon" is redefined somebody wants to ban something.  Eventually they'll start calling your lever action 30-30s assault weapons.

Seriously, the definition of "assault weapon" is different for every single law.  Something that is an "assault weapon" in CA is not in NY.  Now that the federal ban is dead, some states, like my beloved PA, have no laws defining or banning "assault weapons."  Anything legal under federal law is legal in PA, with the exception of "explosive destructive devices", ie live grenades.  Other NFA firearms have to be owned in accordance with federal law.

Sorry, but Kalifornicate has already tried that out on the 3030.

[30-06man]

wait till they try on a BB gun. that's pathetic. they say BB guns look like one but no one but them can see the similarity's

[Dee]

Hate to keep spoiling every-one's surmisings, but that's already been done to. Chicago I believe.

[30-06man]

yeah. after guns then comes the bows

[Dee]

I believe that one may have already been done, but in Australia. Swords, and knifes too. Not for sure about the bows though.

[BULLMASTIFF]

The way I look at it, by calling a particular rifle an "assault rifle", we are slowly falling victim to the Anti's manipulation of words that has, and will continue to work against us.  I personally call them my HDR - or HOMELAND DEFENSE RIFLE.  This gets people thinking of them in other ways, other than the "evil black rifle" that the libs and media have thrown out there.  Because the people we need to inform, are not the Anti's who have already made up their stupid little minds, it is the average, suburban guy or gal that has had no experience with firearms at all, and there fore, doesn't yet have an opinion on them.  Just something you all might want to think about.