This is just a simple reflection on how ignorant lawmakers are in regards to weapons. People become fearful of what "looks" scary or dangerous and create laws to ban them. Nunchucks and butterfly knives or switchblades - absolutely no more dangerous than a baseball bat or a pocket folder and yet the general population sees something on television and the fear drives lawmakers to make some token effort to placate them.
We can look all around for other examples. I won't even get into the semi-auto rifle example. I will use the suppressor, or "silencer" as something that makes a lot of sense or people to have. Yet the general population thinks these are hitman assassination tools that can turn a rifle into a BB gun which will, in some mental gymnastics, make people more apt to go out and murder others. Or, perhaps, make it impossible for police to solve crimes because of these silent killers. The truth is they will do more good than harm when it comes to hearing protection for the average shooter or hunter. Yet the general population will cower in fear of these weapons.