Assault-Style Weapons' Use In Crimes Seem To Be Increasing

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- They're easily accessible and deadly in the wrong hands. Now WJZ is taking a closer look at the so-called assault-style weapons being used in violent crimes here in Baltimore and across the country.

George Solis met with experts to find out why it appears we're seeing more of these weapons on the streets.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tells WJZ these style of weapons are legal, as long as the buyer plays by state rules. Experts tell WJZ their popularity isn't necessarily a numbers game as it is just being in the spotlight.

As a barrage of bullets flew in west Baltimore Thursday night, police on their radios painted a picture of the unfolding horror.

"Shots fired! Assault rifle; officers being shot," said one.

It's a frightening reality in the wake of the deadly Dallas shooting of police, another case where authorities say a high-powered assault weapon was used.

"It's not the weapon itself as much as it is whose hands it winds up in," said Dave Cheplak.

Cheplak is a special agent with the Baltimore division of the ATF. He tells WJZ the use of these weapons is nothing new, it's where we've seen them used---places like Newtown, Aurora and San Bernardino that's drawn them into the national spotlight.

"The prevalence of the weapon," Cheplak said. "Part of that is based on the heightened sensitivity and the impact the media is placing more focus on those."

Weapons ATF agents say can also be misidentified. By definition, an assault rifle has a place for a detachable magazine, usually one that will fire a lot of bullets. It also needs at least two of the following: a pistol grip, a folding or collapsible stock or a flash suppressor on the barrel.

According to the ATF, getting your hands on one of these assault-style weapons isn't hard to do; owning an assault rifle is legal in Maryland.

For police, the challenge is keeping them off the streets and out of the hands of the wrong people.

As part of the latest investigation, police and the ATF will work together to find out what kind of rifle was used and whether it was used in other shootings in the city.

The guns in these cases are what are called semi-automatics, less capable of rapid fire like machine guns. The ATF says those are legal, too, through federal regulations.