Proposed rule: Rifles as a single category

[MoviePropMaster2008]

Some members have communicated to me that they think rifles should be a single category rather than have rifles and then 'assault rifles' separately. I think this makes sense for several reasons. (a) Having several entries for AKs, M4s, and then have another category for an M1 garand, looks sloppy (b) There are cases where some long guns just don't fit any category well, the M1 Carbine, the SKS, the M14, the FN FAL, the G3, the FG42. The generic category: RIFLE would encompass all of them

But probably the most compelling is popular culture. Since IMFDB members tend to have a knowledge base about firearms that is far greater than the average public, we don't want to perpetrate the notion that 'assault rifle' is somehow more 'evil' than a 'regular rifle' In the civilian world of semi auto only weapons, there is NO difference between a Ruger mini 14 rifle in a plain wooden stock and an AR15 in evil black tactical furniture when it comes to firepower. However, the public perceives the Mini-14 in wood stock as a 'rifle' and the AR-15 as an evil 'assault rifle'. Don't even get me started on the Ruger Mini-30 as the 'nice gun' and the AK47 as the 'evil gun'.

So I propose the IMFDB formatting standard (that members like jcordell have been fixing on IMFDB, thanks to all) be 'set' on rifles and eschew categorizing various rifles as 'assault rifles'.

Ideas? Complaints? Comments? Input? All are welcome.