The question in the title is actually really simple answer. What makes a rifle an assault weapon well if you assault somebody with a rifle no matter if it’s semi-automatic or automatic it is an assault weapon. But the media tries to point out that the rifle look like a military used weapon another words that looks like the military would use it but why why does it look that way the answer is simple it’s called the pistol grip. The pistol grip when placed on a longer firearm such as a rifle or even a shotgun it causes The Recoil after firing to be absorbed by the palm and the shoulder making the ability to aim quicker after the recoil.