Associated Press Perpetuates ‘Assault Weapon’ Lie in Journalist’s Stylebook
Nobody enjoys being stigmatized by inaccurate, sometimes devious, reporting. Yet this sort of thing occurs all the time, especially when it comes to guns. A general example is noted in the fascination with the word "assault" as it is used to describe firearms. A specific example can be found in the 2012 "AP Stylebook."
From the 2012 AP Stylebook:
“Assault Weapon: A semi-automatic firearm similar in appearance to a fully automatic firearm or military weapon. Not synonymous with assault rifle, which can be used in fully automatic mode.”
For the media to transmute the military term "assault rifle" into "assault weapon" is at best a display of ignorance, at worst a display of deceit.
The verb "assault" refers to behavior that can be perpetrated with any kind of weapon; a behavior that is prohibited by statute in most jurisdictions. Something for gun owner's to keep in mind when reading "the news."
The word "hoplophobe" would certainly describe any person who feels assaulted because they had to look at a sporting rifle.
-fl