Civilians Don’t Need AR-15s
BY Herschel Smith
7 years ago
In 1949, the Soviet armed forces put a new, deadly assault rifle into general use, the AK-47. The Mikhail Kalashnikov design was soon disseminated around the world as a cheap, effective, durable military and police weapon.
America’s answer came fewer than 10 years later in a modification of the AR-10, a selective fire rifle first developed by Gosport, Indiana, native Eugene Stoner and two of his assistants at ArmaLite. A re-designed AR-10 was soon marketed to the military by Colt as the M-16, and was sold to the public as the AR-15.
Stoner died in 1997, during the 10-year period starting in 1994 when new AR-15s with certain features were outlawed for civilian use under the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. So, he wasn’t around to see the ban’s lifting in 2004. Since then, AR-15-style rifles have been a common denominator in several high-profile mass shootings.
Thursday was the fifth anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty-eight people, including 20 5- and 6-year-old first-grade students, were shot to death.
There is no reasonable civilian purpose for this type of weapon. Unlike handguns, they offer no reliable accuracy at close range for home protection purposes. And, unlike bolt-action rifles and shotguns, they require little to no skill in the hunting realm.
This is a gun designed to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible. Period.
The sad truth is that re-banning the AR-15 and the like won’t even begin to address the most prevalent weapon used in mass shootings: legally obtained handguns. That’s a much thornier issue. But, if we can’t even call the AR-15-style rifle a step too far, how do we imagine we’ll ever be able to address the larger gun problem in this country?
You learn something every day from the more educated gun owners, yes? AR-15s are great at (presumably) moderate to long ranges for “killing as many people as possible as quickly as possible.” But they “offer no reliable accuracy at close range for home protection purposes.”
Better work fast, men. Your trusted battle carbine is no good for CQB. By the way, Stephen Bayezes says hello. As do hundreds of thousands of Soldiers and Marines who have relied on said weaponry for room clearing operations.
On December 17, 2017 at 10:33 pm, mobius said:
OMG! I better get rid of it before I hurt myself.
On December 18, 2017 at 12:10 am, J said:
I love when people with No Experience talk guns.
So, the ar15 has “No Reliable Accuracy in cl
On December 18, 2017 at 12:12 am, J said:
“No Reliable Accuracy at close range/Home Defense.
Ok, perhaps his, but anywhere innmy house i will shoot out yoyr pupils if your stupid enough to stand still.
But i prefer centermass
On December 18, 2017 at 6:01 am, Pat Hines said:
The comment I couldn’t make without an account:
” No, we’re not going to tolerate banning any firearms. In fact, we’re going to remove restrictions upon fully automatic weapons.
Your move.”
On December 18, 2017 at 7:06 am, Duke Norfolk said:
And, of course, they reveal their true agenda: the banning of all guns (though they may say that hunting rifles are OK, but that wouldn’t last).
But “nobody wants to take all your guns, you crazy paranoids.” Yeah, uh huh, right.
On December 18, 2017 at 8:27 am, Frank Clarke said:
I think they are preaching to the choir, and I think they know it. The recent success of ‘The Hunger Games’ series of movies very vividly displayed a society in which only the authorities have weapons, and I am sure the lesson was not lost on the bulk of those who watched: a disarmed society is an oppressed society and only those with guns or special favor eat well.
We rail against those who mouth threats against our ability to fight back, but we know, don’t we, that it’s all just words. Disarming 100 million people who already have 350 million guns and 200 billion rounds of ammo is not something that’s going to happen quickly or soon or without a great deal of bloodshed from exactly the class of people who think it can’t happen to them.
http://tinyurl.com/TipgPt2
On December 18, 2017 at 8:51 am, Jack said:
Philip Brailsford and the Mesa PD (http://www.captainsjournal.com/2017/12/10/philip-brailsford-killer-cop/) beg to differ
On December 18, 2017 at 11:17 am, Fred said:
I’m still waiting!
Show me the autopsies! Show me the complete autopsies with pictures of the little children’s faces and exit wounds and detailed descriptions of causes of death and any video and audio of the examinations and death certificates.
I’m still waiting!
On December 18, 2017 at 1:08 pm, moe mensale said:
“A re-designed [select fire] AR-10 was soon marketed to the military by Colt as the M-16, and was sold to the public as the AR-15.”
And again they continue to perpetuate the lie that the M16 and the AR15 are the same weapon.
On December 18, 2017 at 1:16 pm, Geoff said:
“Unlike handguns, they offer no reliable accuracy at close range for home protection purposes”
That is why we have AR pistols in 5.56 and 300BLK with 5″ to 12″ barrels and a brace. (which apparently one is now allowed to shoulder)
So we now have the equivalent of the SBR without the $200 Tax and 6 to 9 month wait.
On December 18, 2017 at 4:24 pm, Bill Robbins said:
If you cannot convince them with reason, try a little kindness, as in, “Yes, dear. Bless your little heart. I do declare!”
On December 18, 2017 at 8:08 pm, Black Knight1 said:
“Unlike handguns, they offer no reliable accuracy at close range for home protection purposes”
Somehow, I think that, if they could speak from the grave, there would be some dead NVA and VC from Hue City to Saigon that may have a different opinion of the “reliable accuracy” of the M-16/AR-15 rifle. Also, you could probably add in some dead jihadis from the recent events in Iraq (think Fallujah) and they may have a similar opinion as the dead NVA/VC. Just a thought….
The arrogance of the anti-2A “elite” is only overshadowed by their ignorance. May those of us who love liberty and the God-given freedoms codified by our constitution be blessed with an army of opponents this “knowledgable”!
Black Knight 1…..out!
Semper Fidelis!!!
On December 18, 2017 at 8:53 pm, Henry said:
“This is a gun designed to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible. Period.”
Police departments buy AR15s by the crateful. Now explain their plans.