Why are AR-15s Controversial?

Why are AR-15s so controversial?

The rule here is no politics, but we are pro-2^nd Amendment.  I was asked to write a post on AR-15s explaining why they are both popular, and such a hot button with 2^nd Amendment opponents.  Since I am a fan of the AR-15 as a prepper rifle, I decided to see if I could write such a post, without crossing the line on politics.  Please bear with me as I try to cover a politicized topic, without lapsing into politicking.

Definitions – What are AR-15s, exactly?

The first thing we need to do to understand the conflict is to understand what an AR-15 actually is, as opposed to what politically motivated individuals claim it is.  AR-15 was originally a model from Armalite, and then Colt.  It has since become available from many different manufacturers, and AR-15 has become a generic term, like “Xerox” being used in lieu of photocopier.  The generic AR-15 has also become widely available as a kit, or can be acquired as parts for a custom assembly.  No other firearm has as much of a “build our own” following as the AR-15.

The most, scary sounding descriptions of an AR-15 are that it is “high powered” or “a weapon of war”.  The fact is that most firearm technology is driven by military needs.  The civilian hunting and target shooting markets sort of ride on the coattails of military driven advances as well.  As a result, the “weapon of war” description is somewhat true, but also meaningless as you could attach the same description to every firearm in production today.

Slight exaggeration 😊

The “power” of a firearm is really a function of the ammunition.  The impact of ammunition is determined primarily by the size of the bullet and the speed it travels.  The 5.56 round used by most AR-15s is relatively fast, but also relatively small, compared to other rifle rounds, so calling it “high powered” is essentially meaningless, but sounds scary.  Most hunting rifles (not all) use more powerful ammunition than the 5.56 round.

There is also confusion generated by non-firearm folks over the terms “automatic” vs. “semi-automatic”, with a lot of erroneous usage.  “Automatic” means multiple shots fired with one trigger pull.  “Semi-automatic” provides one shot per trigger pull.  Automatic weapons are extremely rare and difficult to obtain outside the military.  If you compare two models of rifle like the AR-15 (civilian) and the M-16 (military), which are similar, except one is automatic and the other is semi-automatic, the automatic rifle will fire at 8-10 times the rate of the semi-automatic.  That is a pretty significant difference.  When someone says that an AR-15 is “automatic”, they are wrong.  AR-15s are semi-automatic.  The military M-16 and M-4 are automatic.

This brings us to what is an “assault weapon”?  As a standard term, there is no clear definition.  It is a made-up term.  Under the law, an assault weapon is whatever the law says.  Today there are a number of states that have assault weapons ban (AWB) statutes, including my home state of the People’s Republic of New Jersey, and they all have different definitions of what is an assault weapon.  An assault weapon is whatever your state legislature says it is!  ☹

How the AR-15 and M-16 are different from earlier rifles

Prior to introduction of the M-16 in Vietnam, US soldiers were usually equipped with M-14s.  The M-14 was found to be too heavy, and the ammunition to be too heavy vs. the AK-47 being used by Viet Cong troops.  A lighter weapon and ammunition was needed for slogging around in the jungle.  The AR-15/M-16 platform had been pitched to the military for a number of years.  The new platform was several pounds lighter than the M-14, partly due to a black plastic stock instead of the traditional wood, and as already discussed, and the ammunition was much lighter, allowing a soldier to carry more.  The distinctive appearance is largely due to the use of black plastic instead of wood.

So, the AR-15 and M-16 are distinct from earlier rifles due to light weight, and smaller (not more powerful) ammunition.  The same lightweight ammunition has since been used for many other firearms.  Otherwise AR-15s are simply modern rifles, even though the AR-15 was developed in the 1950s, because of features like plastic and aluminum construction, box magazines, etc. and at this point teething problems have been largely driven out by long military usage of the M-16.  Note that because the light weight makes the rifle easier to carry and aim, it is popular with smaller statured individuals, like women and teenagers.  It is very reliable.

There are still M-14s around, as well as the semi-automatic variant, the M1A.  The comparison between the automatic M-14 and semi-automatic M1A would be analogous to the comparison between the M-16 and the AR-15.

The result, is that today the AR-15 is the most popular civilian rifle sold, and it is popular for hunting and target shooting, regardless of what you may have heard on television.

The Clinton Assault Weapons Ban

In the 1990s, during the Clinton administration, we had not yet experienced the media and public reaction over mass shootings we have seen in recent years, but the Clinton administration had a desire to look like it was “tough on crime”.  The Federal Assault Weapons ban (AWB) became law, with a sunset provision that meant it would go away in 10 years.  However, if you already owned an AR-15, or any of the other weapons named in the AWB, it was “grandfathered”, i.e. you could keep it.  In addition, the parts were still manufactured both as spares, and for the military M-16.

At the time, the AR-15 was a model from Colt.  However, gun manufacturers have proven adept at staying legal while working to get customers the products they want, and they wanted AR-15s.  Suddenly lower receivers, the serial numbered part, became available from manufacturers other than Colt, that were not covered by the AWB.  With a lower receiver (the part with the serial number) you could build your own Brand X AR-15 using the parts still in production.  The “Build an AR” phenomenon was born.  Once the AWB expired under the Bush administration, all the manufacturers making lower receivers could now sell complete rifles, and the public wanted to get AR-15s before another AWB came around.  Sales were brisk!  😊  Today every part of an AR-15 is readily available from numerous manufacturers.  Oh yeah, the Justice Department concluded that the AWB had no discernable impact on crime.

This brings us back to the question of what is an AR-15, particularly given the generic nature of the term.  For instance, if I build my own AR with a generic lower and swap out the “evil features” for parts that are compliant with state law, I no longer have an “assault weapon”, but do I still have an AR-15?  People will tend to call it that, just like a photocopier being called a Xerox.  At what point do the changes become enough that the rifle is no longer an AR-15?

The Greatest Gun Salesman of All Time!

Obama Administration

The AWB sunset provision took the AWB off the federal books in 2004.  When Obama was elected, we got an administration with a stated goal of a new AWB.  Sales of all firearms began an upward trend.  People wanted an AR or AK before they were banned.  When Sandy Hook occurred, sales of anything that might be considered an “assault weapon” took off.  By this time, the name AR-15 was used to mean not only the Colt model it originally referred to, but any of the Brand X copy cats now on the market.  While no one knows how many AR-15s from all manufacturers have been sold, I have seen estimates of 15 million in circulation, with hundreds of thousands sold each year.  I suspect the numbers are low.

Gun owners like the AR-15 because it is light and easy to shoot, reliable, and as modern as any other choice.  For a prepper the same characteristics are appealing.

Why Do Mass Shooters Use AR-15s?

People wonder why AR-15s are such a favorite of mass shooters.  Mass shooters who know about guns, would want a light, easy to handle, reliable, rifle that uses ammunition that can be carried in quantity to the scene.  Sounds like an AR-15, right?  Shooters who don’t know about guns would simply want something that is readily available, and perhaps has a reputation for working reliably.  That also sounds like an AR-15.  In other words, mass shooters agree, the AR-15 is a good rifle!  Duh!  ☹

Why Do Anti-Gun Proponents Focus on the AR-15?

If you are opposed to private gun ownership and want to reduce the number of guns in circulation (300 million or more) then opposing the most popular rifle on the market, which has been associated with several recent mass shootings, would seem like a good place to start.  In fact, it is a lot smarter than some of the other stuff anti-gun folks go after.  Here in the Peoples Republic of New Jersey, there is an effort to ban 50 caliber rifles.

Want to know how many crimes have been committed with 50 caliber rifles?  Zero.  Want to guess how many 50 caliber rifles are in private hands in NJ?  Not enough to worry about.  Want to guess what a 50 caliber rifle weighs?  More than I want to lug around.  😊  Focusing on AR-15s makes more sense if you’re actually trying to reduce firearms in circulation.

Back to the Question

Why are AR-15s controversial?  Basically, gun ownership is currently controversial.  The AR-15 is the single most popular rifle sold in the US today.  It’s been called “America’s Gun”.  It is an excellent firearm and has become a symbol for private gun ownership in general.  If you believe private gun ownership is essential to maintaining a free society, you’re going to want to see AR-15s continue to be available, and if you don’t approve of private gun ownership, you would like to see AR-15s banned.

Salty’s note: Spice and Salty both agree completely with this article.