I fall into the crowd of those that have never referred to any rifle as an assault rifle. Have never referred to any pistol as an assault pistol either...or a knife as an assault weapon. There have been many over the years killed/stuck with an ice pick and I've never referred to one of them as an 'assault pick'.
Rifle will suffice.
Pistol will do.
Knife will stay the same.
Ice pick won't change.
Hey...I wander if an arsonist refer's to match's as 'assault match's'?
The present AW confusion is another weapon of mass distraction. If a politician starts wondering about dead Americans in Libya or the economy its "Hey look something shiny" or "squirrel, squirrel". It ties up mental resources that are in short supply in Washington DC.