There were FAR fewer military-style assault weapons in the hands of private citizens.
They’re not really military-style, maybe the exterior design but military-style weapons fire bursts or full-auto, which are kept to the military except for the black market sales.
And The term “assault” means to strike. In the military, infantry squad divides their fire teams into 3 roles, assault, security, support. An assault team of the military is to strike, like fire maneuver toward the enemey and fuck em up. Security is to watch their backs and support is back up.
So that means even a pistol could be an assault weapon, or a hammer, baseball bat, knives depends on your role.
All made up term