how does the government and the anti gun people define an "assault weapon"?

[jay]

You can get a good description by googling "clinton assault weapons ban" that was law from 1994-2004.

[Ga hunter]

Assault is an action and "assault weapon" shouldn't even be a thing. I could assault you with a spork or a knife or a rock. Should those be banned too?

[Gary Devine]

A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire bullets in quick succession from an ammunition belt or magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute.
A semi automatic like a AR 15 Bushmaster will fire with each finger pull of the trigger. You would get off between fifty or sixty rounds in a minute.
Of the two types which is the military assault weapon and which type would you take in battle?

[jhjimbo]

Assault is a behavior, not a device.