Resolved: Assault weapons should be banned for civilian ownership.

Since both Pro and I have agreed on the definition of an assault weapon, I will begin by analyzing each of the features of that specific type of firearm, and how each does not necessarily add to the lethality of the weapon. First, let us look at semi-automatic fire. Contrary to common belief, semi-automatic fire is not "rapid-fire. " Rather, unlike machine guns, semi-automatic weapons fire a single bullet per trigger pull, and some of the energy from the exploding gunpowder is redirected to eject the spent casing and chamber another round. While it is true that semiautomatic fire allows more bullets to be fired in a given period of time, banning all semiautomatic firearms is simply impractical. Virtually all modern pistols with the exception of revolvers are semiautomatic, as are many hunting rifles and a large percentage of shotguns. Second, the barrel shroud. Despite sounding frightening, a barrel shroud is a device designed for comfort purposes; It prevents the shooter's hands from being burned from the heat of the barrel. In fact, many hunting rifles use a block of insulating wood to achieve the same purpose. Third, the pistol grip. Despite the well-intended belief of those wishing to restrict pistol grips, the device is solely designed for ergonomics; Holding a pistol grip or thumbhole stock is more comfortable than having to bend the wrist in order to fire. It does not allow "hip-firing" as some would have you believe, unless the weapon is fully-automatic. Even in that case, it is highly inaccurate compared to aiming down sights and would probably result in fewer deaths even in a mass-shooting situation because ammunition would be expended so quickly. Detachable magazines are the most dangerous of the assault weapon's features, but even then they are not unique to assault rifles. Found on many popular hunting rifle models, most handguns except revolvers, and some shotguns, detachable magazines simply allow the rifle to be loaded more easily. I have also commonly heard the claim that "No one needs an assault rifle. " This is strictly speaking true. No one NEEDS any kind of firearm. However, the topic of this debate is not an all-out ban on any gun, but rather a ban of a specific class of weapons. Saying assault weapons are useless for civilians, however, is an outright lie. They are extremely popular for numerous activities, including but certainly not limited to hog, coyote, and varmint hunting, three-gun competitions, and general target shooting. In fact, the AR-15 is the most popular style of rifle in America, and is also the most popular weapon for home defense, according to the National Rifle Association and NBC News. While assault weapons are not the best at any one activity, they are very versatile and thus better for those without the resources to purchase a gun for every different hobby. Since they are factually no more deadly than any other semi-automatic rifle, and useful for a variety of peaceful activities, I can see no reason to ban them and strongly encourage a vote against the resolution. I look forward to hearing my opponent's response. . https://www.nraila.org... . http://www.assaultweapon.info... . http://www.wsj.com... . http://dailycaller.com... . http://www.nbcnews.com...