I have no desire to take away people's right to protect themselves. However, an assault/military rifle can kill hundreds in seconds.

Those are banned already. There's no real difference between a semi-automatic handgun and a semi-automatic rifle. Other than effective range. They should all be banned. The right to protect one's self doesn't necessarily require a handgun.

Assault weapons are a starting point! Next reduce magazine capacity! Strengthen the application requirements! There are lots of options!

None of those are allowed by the Supreme Court rulings in Heller and McDonald. The 2A must be repealed or amended. Stop pretending the problem is any particular gun. Handguns kill more innocent people than rifles. Ban them all.