Mark Bruenger Sr.
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
First and foremost, gun control is people control; however, many people have little knowledge about AR-15s, so some basic information is needed.
The AR preface to AR-15 is an abbreviation for the firearm manufacturer ArmaLite.
Supposed assault “devices” have a mirror image when the tables turn, and defensive actions are needed. Does the weapon then become a defense device? Besides, motor vehicles and other items can be used for mass murder. So are inanimate objects evil or the person who missuses the device? The answer, of course, is the person is evil.
The “black” rifle, and pistols, are black because a black coating is cheap and uniform for original parts and future accessories. The barrel bore is bare steel and needs a thin layer of oil when the firearm is stored to prevent rust. Black plastic doesn’t rust and doesn’t need an oil coating. Pink AR-15s are available although some parts are still black.
The downside of full auto fire is illustrated by a Vietnam event. An American squad encountered a VC squad and both sides fired at each other using full auto. When quiet returned, both sides were out of ammunition and nobody was hurt. A good pistol shooter can easily defeat a bozo with a bump stock. Aiming is better than volume of fire.
A large magazine is needed considering an event from Somalia when American troops encountered some Somalia fighters. Americans needed three to five hits from their M-16s per fighter while a sergeant using a M-14 only needed one shot hit. The M-16 essentially uses the same cartridge as the AR-15 and the M-14 uses essentially the same cartridge as a 308 Winchester cartridge. A .308 caliber bullet fired from a rifle, not a carbine, is more effective than the .223 caliber bullet fired from a rifle. I am ignoring slight differences between military and civilian ammunition and large differences in case propellant volume.
An AR-15 with a 30-round magazine would be a good home defense weapon because it’s easy to handle, has enough ammunition to handle more than one intruder and is under powered, so a blow through on an intruder would not reach out and contact your neighbor.
Demonizing the AR-15 or large capacity magazines is just a political ploy to attack the Second Amendment, not an attempt to provide a safer world.