Confusion about the legalities of automatic weapons

Tyler, Texas — The assault weapon ban that was established during Mr. Clinton's presidency expired in 2004. But even with the term "assault weapon" as a part of the American lexicon, most folks use the term incorrectly.

The 1934 National Firearms Act defined automatic and semi-automatic weapons. Here is the definition of an automatic firearm, or what some call an assault weapon. "A firearm that will fire multiple rounds per single shot pull of the trigger," said Nicholas Monk, manager of NFA sales at Hot Rod Arms in Tyler. A semi-automatic firearm is, "A firearm that's designated as one shot for every mechanical pull of the trigger."

In Tuesday night's debate, President Obama said he was in favor of new assault weapon legislation. Sales and Firearms Instructor at Lock and Load told KETK, "As soon as election year comes in, gun sales sky rocket through the roof." Mr. Romney said although he didn't want to make new gun laws, "We of course don't want to have automatic weapons, and that's already illegal in this country."

However, manager of Monk tells KETK that's incorrect. He said, "To purchase an automatic firearm it has to be a civilian transferable machine gun, manufactured prior to May 19th of 1986." He says any guns made after that date are for military and government agencies only. But, what about the different loop holes that people go through to bypass these laws.

For instance, bump fire stocks, which transforms a weapon into a fully automatic firearm. Quates said, "It makes it too easy for people that don't know what their doing to have full auto weapons, I think its dangerous and unsafe for people to have those."

He also said that since people don't know what the next four years will look like in regards to gun laws, many people are trying to get everything they want now.