Once they start making feeble attempts to differentiate between the various types of rifles, start worrying.
In California, they are now trying to differentiate between revolvers and semi-automatic handguns. As long as I can remember it was always pistol or handgun, but never semi-automatic. But for the past few years, it's semi-automatic (even if the bad guy used a revolver). This is part of the agenda to demonize semi-autos, as the antis want them banned.
It would be interesting if your media tried to follow the same route as CA. Here, the antis and the media first demonized the SKS and AK-47 types, which were then banned without a hitch as most people don't view them as being "American". Of course, the AR15 was next.
Anyway, keep an eye out for the language they use in the press. If you start seeing a pattern, start worrying.