Why would people want an AR-15? A question from Sally

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Dean, Hi. Just seeing your blog. Why would people want an AR-15? What would be the purpose of having one? Just to have it? I am sure it is a powerful gun. Guns are fun - because they are power, at least I think so. And I don't have much experience with guns. There seems to be a big debate going on about them and their magazine. Thanks. Sally

Sally:

There are many reasons for owning guns, so your question is rather like: Why would people want to own a Cadillac, or Why would people want to own a four wheel drive pick up truck? In a free society, it is up to those who would stop people from owning things to show why there is an overwhelming reason to prevent people from owning something. We do not (yet) live in a marxist society where the government bureaucrats decide what we "need", as in "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need".

AR-15 rifles are the most desired rifles in the United States right now, and have been the fastest selling for a number of years. Part of the reason for this is that they are easily customized and have numerous accessories that may be added by the owner. Another reason is that they may be the best choice for a home defense long gun. Other reasons are that they are the most common type of rifle used by police, and that all veterans have been trained in the use of the military counterpart, the M16 or M4, which are very similar, but have burst or full auto capabilities.

If I were to choose an all around home defense long gun (not a handgun), I would choose the AR-15. It is light and easy to use. It has exceptional deterrent value, because an evil doer easily recognizes it and its reputation for deadly capability. It can be loaded with frangible bullets that do not penetrate any further than buckshot from a shotgun. It is very accurate and has the capability for easy additions of lasers, lights and optical sights. It accepts standard capacity magazines of 20 or 30 round capacity. The capacity of the magazines allows for warning shots, missed shots, multiple assailants, and repeat shots to a tough opponent or large, dangerous animal. Its recoil is relatively low and easy to control.

As you likely have heard, rifles, in 2009, were used in only 348 murders. Semi-automatic rifles are only a fraction of all rifles, so AR-15 rifles were likely used in less than 50 murders in 2009. Hands and feet were used to murder 801. Blunt objects were used to murder 611. All other guns totaled over 9,000 murders. The numbers have dropped since then.

The idea that these type of rifles, which are among the firearm types that are least used in crime, but are among the most common is society, should be selectively banned is insane.

But, that is the society that we live in with the MSM (Main Stream Media) in power.

I think many people want to own this rifle as a means of protesting against the continual encroachment of government power into our lives.

The purchase of this rifle says to those who would ban it: "Stop. This is a Constitutional Right. You are going too far."

A little long winded. I hope it answers your question.

©2013 by Dean Weingarten Permission to share granted as long as this notice is included.

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/04/why-would-people-want-ar-15-question.html
 
Dean writes:

I think many people want to own this rifle as a means of protesting against the continual encroachment of government power into our lives.

The purchase of this rifle says to those who would ban it: "Stop. This is a Constitutional Right. You are going too far."


Yep. The fastest way to sell an item to a real American is to tell him he will no longer be allowed to have it, and provide no logical reason.
 
Sally's Reply

Names changed to protect privacy

Thanks for all the info. I guess I had thought of this kind of rifle as belonging to gangs and not for sale to the general public. When George was in Viet Nam he shot a M16, which gave me the image that this kind of gun maybe should not be for the public.

But the way that you have discribed a use for this, gives it a different flavor. Probably would stop anyone in their tracks (just the sight of it). The knowledge that you have more shots seems almost impressive, if it would be needed. Not likely that a person would run out. Something to think about. Not a lot of kick. But tearing it down and cleaning would take some practice. Not impossible. From the stories I've heard the M16 could be taken apart and cleaned and put back together rather quickly. Not that everyone would be in a race.

Thank you for answering. I will keep your information. I appreciate it. Sally

Link to Sally's question and answer

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/04/sally-replies.html
 
Left mout was that the AR can be made into a very accurate target rifle and is used in comptition between shooters and that it used more and more in the hunting sports.
 
I am sure it is a powerful gun.

I wish he had dispelled that as well. I did a test for several people who know nothing about guns. I lined up all the shell casings (I pick up all brass, and trade what I dont need) for centerfire rifle cartridges that I had. I asked each person, "you have heard about the ar-15 assault weapon used at newtown to kill those children. By accounts from the news media, which cartridge here do you think they were using?"

Inevitably, they choose something on the largish side... 30-06 or so. And then I show them the "high powered" .223 case.

The 223 is just about the least powered of all centerfire rifle cartridges. 7.62x39 is not far behind it.
 
The reason we want AR 15s is because we have a duty to have them -- every able bodied man should be prepared to defend his freedom with the standard issue weapon, or one as close to it as he can get.
 
Me? Well, the government trusted me with a full auto M16 for several years back in the seventies, and every law abiding person over the age of 18 could legally buy the CIVILIAN version, which was a rifle of the same design, size, weight, and function, only semi-automatic. I guess I can't be trusted with one now. I wonder what changed........
 
The 223 is just about the least powered of all centerfire rifle cartridges. 7.62x39 is not far behind it.
Umm, I think you got that backwards, 7.62x39mm is more powerful than .223, but has less accuracy at longer range. Just sayin'. ;)
I am a vet who didn't train on the M-16/M4...I shot qualification with an M-14 in the Navy in '87, the last service to issue them as GP rifles. We loved them because the 308 could throw a line...but the .223 didn't have enough oomph.

Dean, excellent answer, sir, thank you very much for sharing. I think I am one of perhaps five people in the US who doesn't like the AR-15, but that's OK; I want as many free men and women owning the rifles of their choice as possible.
 
Good answers, Dean. The AR-15 is by far my best vote for home defense.

I don't believe the antis have never heard of multiple armed home invaders, and if they have, they don't care. Doesn't fit into their jigsaw puzzle of illogical reasoning.

You can't reason with unreasonable people. Just take them shooting and maybe that is the only way.

I'm shocked at the ignorance and intolerance of antis. I'm pretty sure those negative attributes spill-over into everyday life, as they have no desire for independent thinking.
 
My conspiracy theory mind thinks "Sally" is a gun grabbing operative pulling your strings. Just my .02 cents.
 
Are you also the reason I can't find any tin foil at my local market? :neener:
 
My conspiracy theory mind thinks "Sally" is a gun grabbing operative pulling your strings. Just my .02 cents.
No, Sally is the real deal. She is actually a fairly conservative, somewhat older woman. She is just ignorant of guns. All of us are ignorant of some things.

Part of what this shows us is the power of the Main Stream Media, and how hard we have to work to overcome their agenda.
 
Umm, I think you got that backwards, 7.62x39mm is more powerful than .223, but has less accuracy at longer range. Just sayin'.

I just knew that was coming :D

Good response. Not overpowering, and now she has a solid baseline to conduct more research on her own.
 
I have shot pistols for almost 40 years and really never wanted an AR or Mini-14 until...Ms. Feinstein got on her bandwagon again. I read her proposal, got angry and worried and went out and purchased a Mini 14. I might have bought an AR but the price difference and the fit of the gun did not suit me as well. I have been very happy ever since. Now..if I could just find some small rifle primers.
 
It accepts standard capacity magazines of 20 or 30 round capacity. The capacity of the magazines allows for warning shots, missed shots, multiple assailants, and repeat shots to a tough opponent or large, dangerous animal. Its recoil is relatively low and easy to control.

I think that's one of the best magazine capacity explanations, given to a non-gun owner, that I've seen:)
 
Part of the reason to own firearms is training in marksmanship for volunteer or conscript military service in case of national emergency. The Army over a hundred years ago establish a national board for the promotion of civilian rifle practice for that reason: basic training is often too little too late in learning safe gun handling. Familiarity with the service rifle of one's military, of one's allies or of one's enemies could be viewed as a civic duty for anyone eligible for military service.

But frankly, I see the popularity of the AR as a natural pattern among military veterans: in civilian life, they gravitate toward the firearms platform they were trained on, not the firearms their fathers or grandfathers used for hunting. The Civil War vets familiar with the 1860 Henry lever-action adopted the 1866 Winchester rifle over the muzzleloader; the Spanish-American and WWI veterans adopted the bolt-action rifle over the lever-action. Why learn a new set of gun operating and safety protocols? You go with what you were trained on and are instinctively familiar with. The AR has become the modern sporting rifle, like the bolt-action and lever-action before it.
 
Yes, as others have said, the "powerful" gun and "power" issues are being sold by the media and statist politicians. We are being painted by a broad brush, as people who have a Napoleon complex, or other insecurities, and need guns to compensate and give us the feeling of "power". She's bought into that.

I have AR-15's because I enjoy shooting them, and for self defense should the need arise. Race riots, natural disasters, large scale power outages, etc have previously caused mobs to loot, murder, etc, and rifles like the AR are the best way to defend home, and family. Why be restricted to a bolt action rifle to protect yourself? It has nothing to do with "power", except the power of self defense, and the enjoyment of target shooting.
 
I think that's one of the best magazine capacity explanations, given to a non-gun owner, that I've seen

Thank you. Educating non-gun owners is one of the best ways for us to regain our rights. The facts, the Constitution, and the culture are on our side.

The other side has the MSM, the Education establishment, the statists billionaires that want handouts, and the power of deception.

We can win, but we have to work at it.
 
7.62x39mm is more powerful than .223

That's what I wrote. on the least power scale (i.e. the weakest) , .223 is near the top (a few weaker rounds, but not very popular) and 7.62x39mm is close behind (nearly as least powerful).
 
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