Look again what I wrote, "assault rifle", not "assault weapon".
The term is a translation from the German "Sturmgewehr", coined to impress the little Corporal, first used to describe what had been known as the MP-43 and -44 (MP == Maschinenpistole). The -44 was renamed StG-44 (Sturmgewehr 44) the which could be translated as "storm" or "assault", but "storm" the sense of "attack" or "assult", "gewher" just meaning rifle. The generally accepted definition is a carbine sized rifle, with select fire capability, firing an intermediate power (between pistol and full power rifle, such as 7.62x51, 30-06, .303, 7.62x54, and pistol cartridges.
Apparently the definition has been removed from the DOD Dictionary of Military Terms. but the term is being used. The new rifle being developed for the Special Operations forces is called the SCAR (S.O.F Combat Assault Rifle) However the "heavy version" doesn't fit the classic definition, being chambered for 7.62x51.
But the real point is that "assault weapon" is a political term, meaning "scary gun we want to ban...this year".
This is definately the crux of the matter. It was also the point I was trying to make.
I bet I'd like a copy of that SCAR in the 7.63 X 51 size. It would look good in the cabinet with the rest of them in that caliber. ;-D