Final answer:
The statement from the National Shooting Sports Foundation is true in the sense that some firearms labeled as 'assault weapons,' like the Colt AR-15 and Springfield M1A, are used in competitions and hunting with common calibers. However, the term often has regulatory and political implications beyond mere firepower, intended to classify firearms based on features, not power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement provided by the National Shooting Sports Foundation asserts that so-called 'assault weapons' are generally less powerful than other hunting rifles, and that the term has been created by anti-gun legislators. The Colt AR-15 and Springfield M1A are mentioned as competition rifles and are also known to be used for hunting, capable of taking game such as deer. These weapons fire standard calibers like .223/5.56mm for the AR-15 and 7.62mm (.308 Winchester) for the M1A, both of which are indeed used for hunting medium game. However, in the context of regulatory definitions and public debate, the term 'assault weapon' often refers to certain semi-automatic firearms based on specific features rather than the caliber or power of the weapon itself. Historically, advances in firearms, such as the development of the automatic weapon or the adoption of hand-held guns in warfare, have significant socio-political implications, as illustrated in United States v. Miller where the Supreme Court affirmed that firearms regulation could be consistent with the Second Amendment if the arms in question did not have a reasonable relationship to a well-regulated militia.