Originally Posted by Pondoro

I have never had much faith in the idea that pro firearm people could rename devices and make them more acceptable. The antis will still hate them and the in-betweeners need to be convinced, not soothed by a name. The undecided need to be invited for a fun afternoon of shooting, not bored by arguments that "this isn't an assault rifle it is a sporting good."

It is totally appropriate to tell them, "Many people use these for sporting purposes" but the next step is to take them shooting, not try to teach them grammar.