Personal Defense Weapons
Assault Weapons
AR-15

All three refer to the same thing. The name and connotation varies based on who has the firearm.

The Department of Homeland Security just put in a requisition for 7,000 PDW (Personal Defense Weapons) — and these would actually more accurately fit in to the Assault Weapons category because they are select fire. Meaning they can be in safe, single fire, and 3 round burst. Oh, and they are specifically asking for magazines with a 30 round capacity.

What’s good for them is bad for you.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/01/26/if-assault-weapons-are-bad-why-does-the-dhs-want-to-buy-7000-of-them-for-personal-defense/