Why does society despise the AR-15?

Most folk distrust things with which they're unfamiliar, as a general rule. That means that the RKBA will be under increasing attack in general as the percentage of folk that are raised as shooters (likely raised suburban or urban instead of rural) drops on a per capita basis.

Specific to the AR, I can only tell you what my wife said when she first saw one of mine - "That looks like a machine gun!". Folk watch moooovies, and that's what thy see. They assume that whatever Arnie did with it is what it's inherently capable of doing, and they don't want that in their neighborhood.

Fear has nothing to do with rational thought. The AR was picked on because it is one of the most popular semi-automatic rifles out there and bears a close likeness to the rifle the military use. Politicians and the press are not interested in facts and figures when they get in the way of promoting mass hysteria to push their cause.

Agree with Milamber, and take the thought a little further. I don't think SOCIETY per se despises the AR-15...but the politicians, press, and antis sure do.

Because it has represented war to the majority of the U.S. population since the Vietnam war.
Then portrayed in every movie since as THE killing machine of choice, next only too the AK-47 as used by villains, and hero's.

And also the weapon of choice to attack by every anti-gun group, TV news reporter, & politician over the last 40 years or more.

Disregard the fact this was all based on the full-auto capable GI issue M-16!
Not the Semi-Auto AR-15.
They both look identical from a few feet away.

It makes no difference to the uninformed, and/or the brain-washed masses, who know no difference.

rc

RC model nailed it!

Because the media told them too

Why does society despise the AR-15?
Because the AR has been demonized by the MSM for the last 30 years.

There are about a bazillion ARs in private ownership today.

And that is a Good Thing, regardless of what the Chicken Littles say.

And whatever Dick Durbin, Chuck Shumer, Carolyn McCarthy, Dianne Frankenstein, Barbara Boxer and all the sisters say...

Effective propaganda and demonization.

They have created this mythical point in history where military and civilian firearm technology diverged.

I disagree with the premise that "most people" demonize the AR-15. It's become one of the most widely-owned guns in the country.

It's the antigun press and antigun politicians that have been doing the job of demonizing the AR-15 -- but this works only with low-information voters that don't know much about guns in the first place.

I'd love to see a Supreme Court case applying the reasoning of Heller specifically to the AR-15. Justice Scalia's standard of "common use" would seem to fit the AR-15 to a tee. IMO it cannot be outlawed precisely because it's "America's Rifle."

Because no one really "needs" and because it's able to kills 20 children and people in less than a minute. Only the military should have them... That is the reason they all will give, and if you disagree, they'll feel as if you're only repeating NRA talking points, and that you care more about your guns than you care about dead children. This is what the average antigun Joe Schmo will tell you....

The media and politicians do not despise the AR15. They both pits one side against the other as a way to get more cash from advertisers and more votes respectively.

I disagree with the premise that "most people" demonize the AR-15. It's become one of the most widely-owned guns in the country.

Click to expand...

But, 'most people' in the country do not own a gun at all.

And of the remaining percentage that do, they are not AR-15's.

The are grandpas old shotguns and .22 rifles.

rc

Just an aside but I would agree that loaded with a 1960s (or even 1980s) technology 55 gran bullet it would not be reliably humane on most deer. However we have come a long way since then.

I read on another forum. that this 70 gr Barnes TSX copper bullet was recovered from a hog.


Mike