On top of that, there are very few AK-47s in the US. What we have are firearms that look like AK-47s. Semiautomatic look-alikes. Of course the news media always tries to blur the distinction. I don't think we should aid them.
“On top of that, there are very few AK-47s in the US.”
I can tell that you’ve never been to the hood. Real AK-47’s are very available as supplied by the Mexican Mob (we’re talking about a gang banger here after all not some red neck in Idaho). Also the semi-auto versions don’t really have a common designator like the AR-15 for the M-16/4 does so it is easier to just call it an AK-47.