…… “assault rifle”.

It means an intermediate power carbine capable of full auto
(or burst) fire.

The term “assault weapon” is a creation of the gun grabbers, and they can
make it mean anything they want, and they will if we let them. Just like
your deer rifle can become a “sniper rifle”, ordinary semi-automatic
firearms which look like, and in some sense are derived from, military
submachine guns, assault rifles and/or battle rifles (a rifle capable of
full auto fire which fires a high power catridge) have already been
demonized via the term “assault weapon”. Oh and your 12 gauge bird gun
and/or home defense weapon can, and has, become an “assault weapon” as well,
with a mere stroke of the governmental pen. (some semi automatic shotguns
are included in legal definition of “assault weapon”.)