There is no rational basis for the distinction between the semi-automatic hunting rifles that the ban prohibits and those it does not.

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For his new book Gun Guys: A Road Trip, Mr Baum travelled across the US and met a variety of gun owners, from those blasting automatic weapons in the desert to a school teacher hunting pigs.

BBC: Gun control: How a US liberal learned to love guns

There are eight categories of weapon, ranging from automatic hardware and machine guns which are prohibited, to hunting equipment allowed with a hunting permit.

CNN: France: Where fear and taboo control guns more than laws

Bans on automatic or semi-automatic weapons will not in any way affect the sport of hunting.

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