Merriam Webster is anti

[Abraham]

So, my S&W M&P 15-22 .22 caliber rifle is an assault rifle because it resembles an M4?

Who knew?

[Pariah3j]

Merriam Webster and other dictionaries, in general, tend to adapt to the commonly accepted use of language/words. So them adding the typical uninformed dumbass's view to the definition isn't surprising to me, just sad that is an accepted definition.

[TreyHouston]

So airsoft and water guns can be "assault rifles" if they just look that part! What about painball guns? They scare me too! All of them project objects and can look "scary". Not like they care anyways!