Not all machine guns are assault rifles, but assault rifles are by definition select-fire machine guns (burst or full auto), firing an intermediate cartridge, and of rifle-like design.

True machine guns like the M2, M240, M249 aren't assault rifles, nor are machine pistols.

We do need a new term for "military-style semi-automatic intermediate caliber rifles", but assault rifle is already used.

I'd suggest "black rifle" or "military-style rifle".

Maybe "Civilian Class" "Law enforcement class" and "Military class" buckets. And require various licensure for each category? (Its going to piss a lot of people off though...)

I'm in general in favor of the non-technical policy changes:

1) 100% transfer-time identity/legal status/mental health/etc. checks (NICS++)

2) Progressive licensing for possession (various classes of weapons); license the owner, not the gun. A gangster with a .25acp pistol is a lot more of a problem than my .338 Lapua Magnum rifle.

3) Streamlining all existing regulations, which is a combination of eliminating ineffective/irrational stuff (SBR/SBS being more regulated than pistols, 922(r) parts counts, etc.) and strengthening other parts (licensing, treating handguns and semi-auto mag-fed rifles more strictly, etc.) Deregulate suppressors, deal with SBS/SBR, and raise the full-auto tax to $2500-5000 indexed to inflation, but also allow post-1986 automatics under that restrictive regulation.

That's effectively what we have now. Civilian-class is any semiautomatic, bolt-action, or single-shot weapon. Law-enforcement-class adds fully automatic weapons. Military class adds grenade launchers, proper machine guns, antiaircraft guns, artillery, naval guns....

Modern sporting rifle.