The vast majority of states have no restrictions on what are
called assault weapons. While the term is often used, there is
no one definition of what constitutes an assault weapon.
Depending on who is doing the defining, assault weapons can be
fully automatic or semi-automatic, handguns or longer guns like
rifles. Congress banned assault weapons from 1994 to 2004, but
there were many loopholes — weapons purchased before the ban
could still be possessed and sold, for example — and in general,
the ban’s effectiveness was sharply debated. California Sen.
Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, has said she plans to introduce
new legislation in early 2013 to ban assault weapons in the
state. States with mandatory checks for assault weapons: Illegal
to possess, import or purchase assault weapons and .50 BMG
rifles, unless weapons were acquired by the owner prior to June
1, 1989. In Denver, the sale and possession of assault weapons
are banned, including "semi-automatic action" weapons and
magazines with 21 or more rounds. P