Well a TEC-9 can be a machine-gun by the basic dictionary or the US legal meaning of a firearm shooting more than one bullet with a pull of the trigger.
Also the 'perception' of mags being clips and so on is reality because it is very prolific. Not so much "tec-9 machinegun, m1 garand assault rifle". If I picked a random individual on the street he or she would likely not even know what a tec 9 or a m1 garand is. Also if said person knew of these firearms by name, more likely than not they would know that said firearm is not an mg or assault rifle.
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