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I do not believe it is in fact a single valid term. It is a phrase, enormously plastic, that has as its meaning whatever any legislature anywhere sees fit to give it as a meaning. Since no one can give you a single, reasonably precise definition of the term, I think we have ample basis to doubt its validity.
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Yes, the term is "plastic", dependent on changes to the law. But that is the same for everything the law does. The meaning of
everything covered in law is whatever "any legislature anywhere" says it is, in the law they pass.
You want a single, precise definition of assault weapon? Just READ THE LAW they wrote. They define it there. Legally. If your gun meets whatever absurd definition they wrote in the law, the the law says it is an assault weapon.
Those of us who know and understand how the various terms are used in our sport and industry know what it "right". What is written in the law is what is legally binding. Until/unless the law is removed from the books, then no matter what we know they are, they are what the law says they are, for any purpose involving the law.
One example: The law says that any semi auto handguns that uses a detatchable magazine and does not accept that magazine through the grip of the firearm is an assault weapon. That is a definition, and when in law, a legal definition.
This makes the Tec 9 (as an example) an assault weapon. This particular gun looks like (in general) a submachine gun, fitting the intended image of an assault weapon, and so now, this handgun is now an assault weapon.
But some models of Walther and other brands of Olympic target pistols also are legally turned into assault weapons by the definition in this law. (note that the newest versions of the proposed law, and I believe the law passed in NY, specifically exempt the Olympic target pistols from being assault weapons under the law. Nice of them to do that, huh?
The current assault weapon laws list a lot of guns specificly by maker, name, and model number. These guns are assault weapons in the law. Then the laws go on the define any other semiautomatics with....whatever particular combination of features they list. Guns meeting that written standard ARE legally assault weapons.
No amount of reasoned argument, explanation, or industry standard usage can, or will change that. The only way to change it is to do it through changes to the law. Our Legislators have spoken, and until we can get them to say different, that is the way it is.
Ok, maybe a court, or THE court can strike the law, effectively going back to square one, but until/unless one of those things happens, the law is what it is, and we have to live with it.