Associated Press Perpetuates ‘Assault Weapon’ Lie in Journalist’s Stylebook (Dan Roberts Expose-Ammoland)

While performing research for an article about modern sporting rifles, I stumbled upon the Associated Press (AP) “Stylebook”, that appears to be the foundation of where the “assault weapon” lie originates in journalism...
The so called “assault weapon“ phrase is a deliberate and cynical ploy to mislead and confuse the American Public over an entire class of firearms that Gun Banners don’t like.

“The semi-automatic weapon’s menacing looks, coupled with the public’s confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons — anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun — can only increase that chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons.” ~ Josh Sugarmann - Violence Policy Center

But with origin of this meme so factually clear and deceptive, why do so many supposedly educated journalists keep misusing the term “assault weapon“ when talking about America’s most commonly owned firearms?
Apparently the Associated Press is the source of the problem!
They clearly direct all Journalist to keep misusing the Term “assault weapon“ in their published 2012 Stylebook. The AP Stylebook is a resource and definition guide, published and distributed to 10,000′s of media outlets, print, online and television Nationwide, for use by journalists, reporters, students and editorial staff to promote correct formatting and accurate reporting of news stories.
From the 2012 Associated Press Stylebook Press Release:

“Updated regularly since its initial publication in 1953, the AP Stylebook is a must-have reference for writers, editors, students and professionals. It provides fundamental guidelines for spelling, language, punctuation, usage and journalistic style. It is the definitive resource for journalists. “

This so called “definitive resource for journalists” has it wrong!
From the 2012 AP Stylebook:

“Assault Weapon: A semi-automatic firearm similar in appearance to a fully automatic firearm or military weapon. Not synonymous with assault rifle, which can be used in fully automatic mode. Wherever possible, be specific about the type of weapon: semi-automatic rifle, semi-automatic shotgun or semi-automatic pistol.”...

  Accompanying the cry for more gun control was the same litany of intentionally mis-represented “facts“, overly emotional rhetoric and ignorance laced commentary by individuals and media alike, for whom things like basic fact checking and the barest adherence to the truth are apparently foreign concepts.
The inclusion and perpetuation of the made up term “assault weapons” by AP Stylebook cuts straight to the heart of the issue. Not holding to the truth.  The facts are this is a made up term.
From Gun Facts, a quick reference guide for civil libertarians on gun control issues. They define an “assault weapon” as follows.

An “assault weapon” is an invented term. In the firearm lexicon, there is no such thing as an “assault weapon.” The closest relative is the “assault rifle,” which is a machine gun or “select fire” rifle that fires rifle cartridges. In most cases so-called “assault weapons” are cosmetically similar to military guns but are functionally identical to and less powerful than hunting rifles.”

Wikipedia, not the most reliable source and one that has liberal left leanings, has this to say:

““Assault weapons” is a political term, often used by gun control advocates, typically referring to firearms “designed for rapidly firing at human targets from close range,” sometimes described as military-style features useful in combat.”...

 Thus creating and leaving the impression amongst readers or viewers that the firearm in question is an actual military grade assault rifle, capable of fully automatic, machine gun type rates of fire. Remember Sugarmann’s quote and CNN being caught intentionally creating exactly that impression.

This isn’t journalism, it’s pure propaganda, plain and simple. Its’s a shameful betrayal of even the most basic adherence to any semblance to journalistic integrity and ethics. And it needs to be exposed....

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Read the full expose at Ammoland.com: http://www.ammoland.com/2012/08/10/associated-press-perpetrating-assault-weapon-lie-in-journalists-stylebook/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ammoland+%28ammoland%29##axzz23JT8bCUo

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Dan Roberts is a hero. Exposing what has been long been suspected, the change from accurate terms like "pistol", "rifle", "shotgun" or "handgun" (anything other than revolvers), for years now, into the intended pejorative buzzword "semi-automatic", as a scare & mind-control tactic(!). Even the President lied in public, describing semi-autos as "weapons of war" that should not be on our "streets", and he knew this was a lie when it came out of his mouth, since it has been proven he and his minion Holder, and anti-gun Democrats want to ban semi-autos. This was the intention when he unleashed "fast & furious", with hundreds of innocent Mexican & American corpses the blood price to get his semi-auto ban. How ruthless is that?.  It is particularly nauseating to see the collusion with the blatant talking points of established  anti-gun/freedom forces being behind this specific media bias. Now this  is exposed for all to see, but of course this story is "spiked" by the "lamestream media", who would never report on their own faults & bias!.  Remember to pass this on whenever possible to clean the mind-control infections from the brains of the public and individuals you are in contact with!...(S9)