an assault weapon has a clear definition where as in an assault you can use various weapons, vehicles, body parts, or yes.. even an assault weapon...
As Ryan said, the definition of "assault weapon" is completely muddled. The federal ban defined it clearly as a list of things that pretty much wring out to "scary looking rifle." That's silly and meaningless. It's been further contrived through mass media misunderstanding.
There's zero practical difference when it comes to throwing lead at a high velocity of whether that weapon has a bayonet lug, or pistol grip, or adjustable stock... Yet we'll ban one and not the other. (These are both Ruger Mini-14 .223s)
The preban definition of Assault Weapon as a select-fire (full auto/burst/semi) rifle using mid-sized cartridges is far more accurate, but it's still a silly descriptor. Something like Tactical Rifle would be more accurate and meaningful (the latter Mini-14 above is billed that way on the site where I grabbed the picture from). But that's a reasonable title instead of a fear-mongering one, and thence not as useful to those with an agenda to push.
