What was the 1994 AWB (Semiautomatic Assault Weapon Ban) all about?
Title 18 USC 921(b) defines the term ‘semiautomatic assault weapon’ means…a semiautomatic rifle that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least two of: (i) a folding or telescoping stock; (ii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon; [which includes thumbhole and “Dragunov” stocks] (iii) a bayonet mount (iv) a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor; and (v) a grenade launcher It shall be unlawful for a person to manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon manufactured after September 13, 1994. Note that if a rifle has a fixed magazine or only one of the items in the list it cannot be considered a semiautomatic assault weapon. Thus, the 1994 AWB affects only SKS Carbines with detachable magazines.
