People argue that taking away guns will reduce crime. The fact is, everywhere banning guns has been tried, crime increases, because then only the criminals have the guns, and therefore the power. Assault weapons are not the menace they're made out to be either. Any gun that's fully automatic is already illegal. Large military hardware like bazookas or rocket launchers are also illegal.
People are frightened by assault weapons because they look menacing.
How they work is important, not how they look. Until the media comes out and supports lawful gun ownership. Until everyone in this country realizes movies are not how things really are. Until prisons are operated on a profit seeking basis. And until the public doom speakers get a brain.