The gun or firearms culture in America is very vast because it has been stated by many that there are more guns in the country than people. One of the most popular or ubiquitous guns, which is used in the American region, is an AR-15-style rifle. It is a controversial gun in America, which is a type of semi-automatic rifle and is a weapon of war. The National Rifle Association of America promotes the AR-15 rifle as an American firearm and suggests that it has American values.
Also, it has been pointed out that the AR-15-style rifle has been used in numerous mass shootings, which indicates that it is a dangerous weapon that is used by people who commit crimes. Further, the AR-15-style rifle is a central symbol in America’s gun debate because many supporters of this firearm look at it as a prestigious weapon according to the Second Amendment. This particular amendment protects people’s right to keep firearms.
The AR-15-style rifle has always been in the American news, but it re-entered American politics on Saturday, 13th July 2024. Law enforcement officers recovered the firearm at the location of Donald Trump’s assassination attempt, which took place while he was campaigning for the upcoming 2024 presidential elections.
Donald Trump is an ardent supporter of gun rights, but he has recently stated that he will reverse all the gun control measures that President Joe Biden has imposed if he gets elected in November 2024. After his attempted assassination, the question that is lingering in everyone’s mind is whether the stance of Trump on gun rights will change or not. But before that, let’s have a look at the information we have gathered about AR-15-style rifles and how they become so popular.
What Is An AR-15 Style Rifle?
The AR-15-style rifle is one of the most popular and deadliest guns in America. Around 25 million civilian people in the American region possess this controversial weapon. It is a semi-automatic firearm, which means that a person possessing this gun can fire several shots at the target in a very short amount of time. The bullets fired by AR-15-style rifles travel very fast, such as three times faster than the bullets fired from a handgun.
Also, it can hit the target perfectly from a very far place and cause severe damage. The deadly weapon has been used in numerous mass shootings, such as the Orlando night club shooting in 2016, the Las Vegas musical festival shooting in 2017, where a gunman killed 60 people, the Uvalde school shooting, which took place in 2022, and many more.
The origin of this dangerous weapon happened in the 1950s when Eugene Stoner, a former marine, invented a lightweight and easy-to-carry rifle for the United States military, which was at the time-fighting guerrilla fighters with AK-47s. Further, the gun was patented by the company Colt in the 1960s. Also, buying an AR-15-style rifle in America is very easy, and the gun is quite inexpensive.
A person living in a certain state can buy a rifle by going into a gun shop, showing valid ID proof, and passing a federal background check. The background check is done to ensure that the person buying the gun does not have any criminal record. However, this background check might be avoided when the guns are sold at private shops. Further, the reason behind the popularity of AR-15-style rifles is that the owners of this particular firearm can customize them according to their preferences, such as large scopes and other accessories.
According to some reports, one in every 20 Americans owns an AR-15-style rifle, which is a symbol of power, heritage, and masculinity. It has also been reported that 44 million AR-15-style rifles could be in the hands of the American people.
How Did It Become So Popular And Ubiquitous?
Since the invention of AR-15-style rifles in America, they have been popular in all the states. Some states, like California, have laid down restrictions on them, but it is very easy for people to buy them. In the 1950s, it was developed as a semi-automatic rifle for civilians. However, in 1959, the rifle was designed and sold to Colt, which later patented it in the 1960s. Also, the gun-selling company adapted it into a military version known as the M-16.
In an interview, Zusha Elinson mentioned that the popularity of AR-15-style rifles was just because of politics. In the 1980s and 1990s, due to high crime rates, people started demanding a ban on semi-automatic guns and military-style rifles. So in 1994, President Bill Clinton banned these firearms by giving his assent to the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Also, he got the support of both parties to pass this law. After the ban, AR-15-style rifles became popular, and it became a symbol of gun rights, which made people buy it.
Then, in 2004, the ban on AR-15-style rifles expired, and many large gunmakers started making assault rifles because the profit margin on these guns was very high, and they could make a lot of money. Also, the process of producing these particular guns was very easy, and companies could easily increase or decrease their production. All of these factors made the AR-15-style rifles very popular, including the military image, which increased the sales of this deadly weapon.
Also, the ease of use, the ability to customize it, and its light weight are among the other reasons behind its popularity. The AR-15-style rifle fires bullets at a very high speed because it has a high velocity and causes severe damage to the target even though it is fired from a very far place. A 2021 survey of Georgetown University projects that 24.6 million in America own an AR-15-style rifle or a similar weapon.
The AR-15-style rifles have become an important topic in America, which everyone argues about. For some people, it represents gun rights, but on the other hand, for some, it is a symbol of gun problems in America.
The attempted assassination of Former President Donald Trump on 13th July 2024 has again proved that it is very easy for the shooters to buy these AR-15-style rifles, which are inexpensive. Also, it will bring the long-going gun debate on assault rifles back into the picture. And now, it will be interesting to see whether the 2024 presidential candidate will support or stand against the deadly weapon.
