So anyone who prefers a rifle for sporting use or the simple protection of their home or family should automatically be denied their firearm of choice, even though said weapons are used in a small fraction of illegal acts? 

 Why do you think that every police department in the nation chooses this type of platform for their officers, because for the simple fact as a personnel defense choice it simply has no equal.

  There are currently millions of these weapons in civilian hands, legally purchased, legally owned, and used for a variety of purposes, hunting, match shooting, personnel protection, as well as billions of rounds of ammunition, trust me if they were truly a problem, other than in the opinions or minds of those that seek to deny them to others, everyone would know it.