Most Americans are uninformed on what a "true Assault weapon" is. I consider a true assault weapon to be a small submachine gun, a fully automatic machine pistol or something like an AK 47. The assault weapon ban also captures semi auto versions of the above, and semi auto magazine fed rifles such as the FN Fal or AR 15. The "intended plan" is a slippery slope if you listen to the groups like Handgun Control.
Shooting the semi auto versions of the real assault weapons is fun. Enjoy it while you can, if Hillary wins in 2008 (Heaven Forbid it!), she will go after gun control in a big way.