semiautomatic

adjective

semi·au·to·mat·ic | \ˌse-mē-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik,

ˌse-ˌmī-, -mi-\

Definition of semiautomatic

: not fully automatic: such as

a : operated partly automatically and partly by hand

b of a firearm : able to fire repeatedly through an automatic reloading process but requiring release and another pressure of the trigger for each successive shot a semiautomatic rifle

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On gun rights, Kavanaugh has taken a broad reading of the Second Amendment, writing in a 2011 dissent that the District of Columbia should not be allowed to ban semiautomatic rifles and high-capacity magazines. — Brian Bennett, Time, "How Brett Kavanaugh Could Change the Supreme Court—and America," 12 July 2018 Walker unveiled the legislation in March after a gunman with a semiautomatic rifle killed 17 at a high school in Parkland. — Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Nearly $45 million in Wisconsin school safety grants is left over as Brad Schimel seeks new ways to spend," 6 July 2018 In 1996, a man armed with a semiautomatic rifle went on a rampage on the Australian island of Tasmania, killing 35 people; the gunman was captured after a 12-hour standoff at a guest cottage, and is now serving a life prison sentence. — Kaylee Remington, cleveland.com, "Cleveland police investigating after 6-month-old baby dies," 28 Apr. 2018 Other bills have been proposed since the Parkland, Fla., shooting, including raising to 21 the minimum age to buy semiautomatic rifles. — Mike Cason, AL.com, "Arming teachers scheduled for debate in Alabama House," 18 Mar. 2018 Sodini stepped into their room at 8:15, switched off the lights, drew a pair of Glock semiautomatic pistols and began shooting. — David J. Krajicek, Sun-Sentinel.com, "'Incel' killers: Man who gunned down three women in 2009 set tone for 'involuntary celibate' mass murderers," 6 May 2018 Kavanaugh has taken a similar position, arguing that the Constitution protects the right to own semiautomatic rifles. — Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "Trump has ‘outsourced’ his Supreme Court picks to this conservative group," 8 July 2018 The same plaintiff later claimed the right to possess a semiautomatic weapon, but lost by a 2-1 vote in the D.C. Circuit, Walker noted. — David G. Savage, latimes.com, "Judges Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett are leading candidates for Supreme Court seat," 28 June 2018 Prosecutors had hoped the gun charge — carrying a semiautomatic weapon during a crime of violence — would send him to prison for the rest of his life. — Adam Goldman, New York Times, "Benghazi Attacker Gets 22 Years, Disappointing Prosecutors Who Sought Life," 27 June 2018

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