USAF_Vet
Member
I know the likelihood of another AWB is slim, but I fear that if another one does come to pass, guns won't be banned based on silly features (bayonet lugs) but by name.
So my question is: What makes an AR-15 an AR-15?
As I understand it, the AR-15 is one model of rifle made by the Armalight company and is specific to that rifle.
So while we would probably all consider the S&W M&P 15 an AR-15, by brand association it is not.
While the term AR-15 has come to encompass all makes and models that have a similar appearance, are they, by rule of law, considered as such?
If a hypothetical AWB does outright ban the AR-15, what would the language have to be in order to ban the similar styles rifles of other manufacturers?
(This naturally would include the AK variants as well, if the AWB banned the AK-47).
I guess the gist of this is would semantics apply? "No, I don't own an AR-15, I own a DPMS DCM-16 upper resting on an ATI Omni lower." By all appearances my rifle looks and functions like an AR-15, but by virtue of nomenclature, it is not.
So my question is: What makes an AR-15 an AR-15?
As I understand it, the AR-15 is one model of rifle made by the Armalight company and is specific to that rifle.
So while we would probably all consider the S&W M&P 15 an AR-15, by brand association it is not.
While the term AR-15 has come to encompass all makes and models that have a similar appearance, are they, by rule of law, considered as such?
If a hypothetical AWB does outright ban the AR-15, what would the language have to be in order to ban the similar styles rifles of other manufacturers?
(This naturally would include the AK variants as well, if the AWB banned the AK-47).
I guess the gist of this is would semantics apply? "No, I don't own an AR-15, I own a DPMS DCM-16 upper resting on an ATI Omni lower." By all appearances my rifle looks and functions like an AR-15, but by virtue of nomenclature, it is not.