Negating the term “assault weapons” leads me to believe the NYT has an end run planned. Stay tuned..........
Could be. Maybe it'll turn out like one judge dealt with porn, ie: 'I can't define it, but I know it when I see it.'
In other words, EVERYTHING will be an assault weapon to somebody, and we can't have that!
The article points out that the term "assault weapon" is meaningless and that the rifles it is typically (and in error IMHO) applied to are responsible for a small fraction of firearms related deaths. Something like 322 out of 11,000 or so. The article points out the truth that the vast majority of those deaths are caused by handguns.
Like you, I don't trust the gun-grabbing liberal fascists at NYT - nor any 'rat. I believe they realize "assault weapon" has just about run it's course. I think they are setting the stage for a run at all handguns. I know, crazy. Huge over-reach. But... I see no reason for the gun-grabbers to abandon their agenda - other that waking up to reality. However they are typically so indoctrinated and so invested in what comes after gun confiscation that I doubt they would ever change their ways. So if they haven't really changed, what's the angle? I think they're going to grab and (mis) use some numbers and make a run at banning/restricting handguns.