The Media's Latest Depictions of the AR-15 - Is it fair?

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

So I claim to be fairly neutral regarding gun control and gun rights. I support arguments from both sides. Now to preface this, I've long subscribed to the argument that handguns are the most common cause of death in firearms related murders, and that long guns such as the AR-15 are only used in a small fraction of murders.

Now when it comes to mass shootings, there seems to be a rise in the use of rifles such as in Sandy Hook, Aurora, Oregon, San Bernardino, and most recently Orlando. I used to cite that the most deadly mass shooting, which used to be Virginia Tech was conducted with handgungs, but the recent string of mass shootings using rifles seems to make my argument harder.

So the media seems to be up in arms all about the AR-15. See these articles:

• NY Times: AR-15 Rifles Are Beloved, Reviled and a Common Element in Mass Shootings
• WaPo: The history of the AR-15
• Vox: The AR-15, the gun behind some of the worst mass shootings in America, explained
• CNN: Why the AR-15 is the mass shooter's go-to weapon
• HuffPo: Here’s What You Need To Know About The Weapons Of War Used In Mass Shootings

These articles got me a bit upset because they seem to frame the AR-15 as some high powered rifle with immense stopping power aimed to kill as many people as fast as possible. But then it got me thinking--

• Do we have stats on how many people were killed with these rifles in the most recent shootings? Per the NY Times, many of the recent shootings did use AR-15 styled rifles but also included handguns. Do we have a breakdown of how victims were shot? Were they mostly with rifles or handguns?
• Does anyone have an answer to why there is a spike (or if there even is a spike) of rifle usage in mass shootings?
• I understand that an AR-15 in general is poorly suited for home defense (penetration of walls, long and not the best for close quarters, very loud, etc.), and while I can sense the media bias in painting this weapon as some sort of WMD, but when used as a mass shooting tool, is it effective in causing large amounts of damage compared to a handgun?
• What's the logic behind the choice of a .223/5.56x45mm gun for mass shootings? Is it simply because the AR-15 platform is so popular that it's easily obtainable (just like we'd expect more Toyota Camrys to be part of more car accidents than say.... Tesla Roadsters simply because there's so many more)?

 

[pcgeek11]

No it isn't fair or usually accurate. I heard one reporter saying that it shoots 700 rounds per minute....

Not even close.

 

[Painman]

No it isn't fair or usually accurate. I heard one reporter saying that it shoots 700 rounds per minute....

Not even close.

700? A Salon article I just read reported over 900. 16 rounds per second, which is basically impossible without an automatic receiver let alone 700. They're not even talking about the same gun anymore. They actually sneaked in a link to M-16 stats, and hoped no one would notice the switcheroo.

 

[Ackmed]

No, they're generally ignorant and don't fact check. As the posters above me said. Also calling it an 'assault rifle' is ignorant.

Taking them off the streets won't stop what has been happening.

 

[michal1980]

Nothing but fear mongering by the LMSM.

The left loves to tell us how smart they are, and how logical they are, and how many facts (and the best facts) they use. Yet the reality is, these rifles (assault rifle, assault weapon, are both made up terms made to spread fear) are used in a tiny number of shootings.

 

[Strk]

Nothing but fear mongering by the LMSM.

The left loves to tell us how smart they are, and how logical they are, and how many facts (and the best facts) they use. Yet the reality is, these rifles (assault rifle, assault weapon, are both made up terms made to spread fear) are used in a tiny number of shootings.

And yet the GOP congress bans studies on gun violence.

Now is the media accurate on an AR-15? About as accurate as they are on anything technical. Which is, needless to say, shit.

 

[werepossum]

And yet the GOP congress bans studies on gun violence.

Now is the media accurate on an AR-15? About as accurate as they are on anything technical. Which is, needless to say, shit.

By the Centers For Disease Control. Come back when you understand why guns are not a disease.

 

[boomerang]

No it isn't fair or usually accurate. I heard one reporter saying that it shoots 700 rounds per minute....

Not even close.

The reporter heard that from Alan Grayson, Congressman from Florida.

Facts are important to the left unless they have a righteous agenda.

Oh, and for those not aware, an AR-15 was not used in Orlando.

 

[fskimospy]

By the Centers For Disease Control. Come back when you understand why guns are not a disease.

As per their mission statement the CDC exists to protect Americans against health and safety threats. Gun violence certainly seems to be a safety threat. I mean you don't actually think that in order for an organization to cover something it has to list it in its name, do you?

The ban on gun violence research is insane and indefensible. It basically comes from a fear that the outcome of the research will be politically bad for the gun lobby.

 

[michal1980]

And yet the GOP congress bans studies on gun violence.

Now is the media accurate on an AR-15? About as accurate as they are on anything technical. Which is, needless to say, shit.

What does government funding have to do with media reporting?

Libs on guns sound like Trump on Muslims.

 

[Painman]

You know why young men join ISIS? The system has failed them, and they seek relevance.

You know why young men join MS13? The system has failed them, and they seek relevance.

The current system has no idea how to deal with economically displaced and/or indigent young men, other than to simply make for-profit sausage out of them.

They're not even imagining any other thing.

 

[Bitek]

<- preface: gun owner

Do the technical details really matter all that much to the overall discussion? They should be doing a better job on it, but still...

Is there a good reason for these guns to be available to the general public when their primary function is to kill many people quickly and efficiently?

These are not guns designed for game hunting, and don't serve well as CC personal protection due to size.

They are a shooters dream offensive weaponry, as Orlando and the other shootings have proved.

 

[Paratus]

We sure it's AR 15s they are portraying?

 

[HomerJS]

I saw a commercial for a foldable AR-15. Why do you need to be able to fold it down? Perhaps to sneak into an area, hide under jacket? Could be how Orlando killer got the gun into the club. Don't know how foldable aids in target shooting or hunting.

When Trump starts allowing them at his rallies I'll believe the honesty from the right on this issue.

 

[soulcougher73]

<- preface: gun owner

Do the technical details really matter all that much to the overall discussion? They should be doing a better job on it, but still...

Is there a good reason for these guns to be available to the general public when their primary function is to kill many people quickly and efficiently?

These are not guns designed for game hunting, and don't serve well as CC personal protection due to size.

They are a shooters dream offensive weaponry, as Orlando and the other shootings have proved.

This is how myself and a fellow friend/gun owner feel also. Semi auto rifles really serve no purpose other than combat or to get your rocks off. The rate of fire can be very high on these almost to the point of full auto, or close enough that it doesnt warrent a distinction outside the way the trigger works. Which is really the big issue is rate of fire, more so than semi/full auto. Sure it would be nice if the media was actually accurate for once, but the overall topic is still a valid one.

 

[glenn1]

Some of the articles are more accurate than others. There's nothing really particularly objectionable about the CNN article for example. It would be nice if all articles could use the proper taxonomy and definitions for firearm terms instead of the colloquial ones but as long as their language as least doesn't purposely mislead I'm got bigger fish to fry.

What would be more helpful to their readers would be if they clarified that the AR-15 is a category of weapon based upon a common chassis platform. If they showed a photo like the one below instead of some tricked out $2,000 custom weapon then people would understand the actual nature of what they were talking about. The description could read simply "this is the core of all AR-15 weapons, every other piece of a final firearm is simply cosmetics and doesn't change the function whatsoever."

Trying to ban the AR-15 platform is like trying to ban GM's Epsilon chassis platform because it's used by operators in a lot of drunk driving episodes; there's nothing that inherently makes it more dangerous than the chassis of a Honda Accord or other car although of course the bigger the car the more likely the collision is to be fatal. Ditto for caliber, although pretty much any firearm caliber is going to be "lethal enough."

 

[Genx87]

lmfao

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/firing-ar-15-horrifying-dangerous-loud-article-1.2673201

An AR-15 bruised his shoulder and a few rounds gave him PTSD. These gun grabbers dont help their cause with idiocy like the above.

 

[Genx87]

I saw a commercial for a foldable AR-15. Why do you need to be able to fold it down? Perhaps to sneak into an area, hide under jacket? Could be how Orlando killer got the gun into the club. Don't know how foldable aids in target shooting or hunting.

When Trump starts allowing them at his rallies I'll believe the honesty from the right on this issue.

It doesnt aid in shooting, but allows for easier transportation. I have an AR-10 with a stock non-adjustable buttstock and 20" barrel. Thing is a pita to transport due the case being like 3 feet long.

 

[Jaepheth]

Also, I've heard several variations of semi-auto rifles having no legitimate use; which is not entirely true.

Outside of target practice they may have limited use, but in those instances you really don't want anything else.

Primarily, in the country where you may come up against varmints (animals that may be killed year-round without a hunting license) or other medium to large animals that pose a risk to humans. Such as wolves, coyotes, bear, or boar. (Mostly boar, as the others are typically only a nuisance to live-stock and will avoid humans. With boar it can be more of a crap shoot between fight/flight (still more likely to flee than charge though))
But if a boar is charging at you, you'll want a caliber that can put it down quickly, and a rifle with the capacity and rate of fire to be forgiving of a few misses. An AR-15 or similar fits this roll very nicely. Seriously, some boar can get big enough that a semi-auto hand gun may just piss it off. (Might die later, but too late to save you)

In the city or for a personal protection roll; it's really only suited (IMO) to protecting your property after a natural disaster when law enforcement isn't what it should be, or anytime you may be faced with multiple aggressors. (Such as if you're expecting a drive-by... though in that case my preferred defence would be a swift relocation... or sandbag wallpaper.)

 

[Londo_Jowo]

lmfao

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/firing-ar-15-horrifying-dangerous-loud-article-1.2673201

An AR-15 bruised his shoulder and a few rounds gave him PTSD. These gun grabbers dont help their cause with idiocy like the above.

Imagine what a 12 gauge shotgun would do to his poor weak shoulder.

As well as a person with a shotgun with the magazine plug out could do some massive damage using .00 buckshot

 

[boomerang]

lmfao

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/firing-ar-15-horrifying-dangerous-loud-article-1.2673201

An AR-15 bruised his shoulder and a few rounds gave him PTSD. These gun grabbers dont help their cause with idiocy like the above.

I like this guys take on it.

A seriously sissified shooting story

 

[michal1980]

<- preface: gun owner

Do the technical details really matter all that much to the overall discussion? They should be doing a better job on it, but still...

Is there a good reason for these guns to be available to the general public when their primary function is to kill many people quickly and efficiently?

These are not guns designed for game hunting, and don't serve well as CC personal protection due to size.

They are a shooters dream offensive weaponry, as Orlando and the other shootings have proved.

you should preface that your a ban guns that I find scarey lefty.

You want to know the truth? most murders, by many many orders of magnitude are caused by hand guns.

Mass shootings just get the most media coverage.

But once again liberals ignore facts, and play on peoples fears.

Tell me again how you guys arent fear mongers?

 

[Sinsear]

lmfao

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/firing-ar-15-horrifying-dangerous-loud-article-1.2673201

An AR-15 bruised his shoulder and a few rounds gave him PTSD. These gun grabbers dont help their cause with idiocy like the above.

I came to post this one. Ridiculous. We have tiny framed women firing m16 or m4 rifles for the 1st time every day in basic trainings & they don't get bruises on their shoulder.

 

[FuzzyBee]

lmfao

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/firing-ar-15-horrifying-dangerous-loud-article-1.2673201

An AR-15 bruised his shoulder and a few rounds gave him PTSD. These gun grabbers dont help their cause with idiocy like the above.

Does this line have anything to do with Orlando? Obviously the "49" does, but the "60 seconds" part?

Forty nine people can be gone in 60 seconds.

 

[Harabec]

I saw a commercial for a foldable AR-15. Why do you need to be able to fold it down? Perhaps to sneak into an area, hide under jacket? Could be how Orlando killer got the gun into the club. Don't know how foldable aids in target shooting or hunting.

When Trump starts allowing them at his rallies I'll believe the honesty from the right on this issue.

Going home on a bus with the ancient M16's from basic training was like carrying a large broom with you.
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