There is often a misunderstanding about the meanings of semi-automatic and automatic but I'm not sure in this case since i don't keep up with Washington State news. With semi-auto, when you pull the trigger the rifle fires once, even if you continue holding the trigger. With auto (sometimes called full auto), when you pull the trigger and hold it, the weapon will fire every GD bullet in the clip. I have always thought full automatic was over-rated since you can unload a 30-round clip in seconds. But in a firefight when the bad guys are moving up, it's good to have at least one person firing on full-auto—in bursts to save ammo—so as to scare the crap out of the other side.