Drediock,
Wording of the Assault Weapons ban from the law itself, from the 103rd Congress:
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa...aw/h3355_en.htm Go to "TITLE XI--FIREARMS SUBTITLE A--ASSAULT WEAPONS"
Under "DEFINITION OF SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPON"
`(30) The term `semiautomatic assault weapon' means--
`(A) any of the firearms, or copies or duplicates of the
firearms in any caliber, known as--
`(i) Norinco, Mitchell, and Poly Technologies Avtomat
Kalashnikovs (all models);
`(ii) Action Arms Israeli Military Industries UZI and
Galil;
`(iii) Beretta Ar70 (SC-70);
`(iv) Colt AR-15;
`(v) Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR, and FNC;
`(vi) SWD M-10, M-11, M-11/9, and M-12;
`(vii) Steyr AUG;
`(viii) INTRATEC TEC-9, TEC-DC9 and TEC-22; and
`(ix) revolving cylinder shotguns, such as (or similar
to) the Street Sweeper and Striker 12;
`(B) a semiautomatic rifle that has an ability to accept a
detachable magazine and has at least 2 of--
`(i) a folding or telescoping stock;
`(ii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath
the action of the weapon;
`(iii) a bayonet mount;
`(iv) a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to
accommodate a flash suppressor; and
`(v) a grenade launcher;
`(C) a semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a
detachable magazine and has at least 2 of--
`(i) an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol
outside of the pistol grip;
`(ii) a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel
extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer;
`(iii) a shroud that is attached to, or partially or
completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the
shooter to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand
without being burned;
`(iv) a manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the
pistol is unloaded; and
`(v) a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm; and
`(D) a semiautomatic shotgun that has at least 2 of--
`(i) a folding or telescoping stock;
`(ii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath
the action of the weapon;
`(iii) a fixed magazine capacity in excess of 5 rounds; and
`(iv) an ability to accept a detachable magazine.'.
Notice it says "semi-auto." I remember hearing about a news story where they spoke about the AWB but showed a fully automatic (or "select fire") AK-47 - definitely misleading. Also, none of these provisions cover the M1 Garand, M1A (semi-auto only M14), Browning BAR (not the WWII LMG), Mini-14, and other weapons which are all semi-auto weapons firing .30-06, 7.62x51mm, and 5.56x45mm cartridges. It's just that they all look like hunting rifles - wood or synthetic stocks with no pistol grip in their stock form. So basically there are weapons that fire the same rounds that are perfectly legal even in California just because they don't look as mean.
A truer definition of "assault weapon" can be found at Tony Williams' site. Something along the lines of a weapon that fires an intermediate-sized cartridge, and is select fire. For the laws that control fully-automatic weapons, look for the 1934 NFA, and the import and new manufacture laws enacted in 1986 and 1989 from off the top of my head. Basically, you need to make sure your state allows you to have a fully-automatic weapon, then pay the tax stamp to satisfy the BATF. Then you will end up paying about $10k at least for a previously owned weapon because there are no brand new fully automatic weapons manufactured for civilian use after either 86 or 89.
Hope this helps you (I'll be checking my automatic weapon laws in the meantime).
mauser
*edit - Ok, here's a good summary of the laws controlling automatic weapons:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=68847&highlight=NFA+import+ban+1986+19891986- No sale of new manufacture full automatics for civilians.
1989- No further imports of foreign made "assault weapons."
