This is in response to the letter “Pleasure aside, stop assault weapon sales” (June 28). While probably well intentioned, the writer displays a total ignorance of the firearm she is bent on banning. She says, “Look at the word assault.” I suggest she look at that word in this context. What the media delights in referring to as assault weapons are in fact not assault weapons at all. True assault weapons have the ability to fire full auto (machine gun).

The AR type rifles condemned by the press are semi-auto regardless of how sinister they may look to some people. Pull the trigger one time and fire one shot, period! They function exactly as all other semi-auto hunting rifles that have been in use for 100-plus years. Full auto weapons have been prohibited from private citizens since the mid-1930s.

She goes on to say they are not needed for hunting as they would blow a deer to pieces. Please! The fact is they are illegal for hunting big game in many states, including Connecticut, due to their inadequate .22 bullet size. Connecticut minimum is .24 cal.

If she truly wants to champion a realistic solution, address mental health. You can’t legislate against lunacy.

Tom Miller

Niantic