I decided to watch the video due to a conversation I had recently
had with this friend. I was not surprised at the content. But the truth is,
though this video is presented as fact, it is actually only opinion. Now granted,
they use legitimate military veterans to state their opinion from their own
personal experience, but it is still opinion none the less.
One can catch hesitation in one of the veterans' voice when he
paused before saying, the two weapons are "basically" the same. I
suspect he knows his statement is not entirely honest.
The AR-15 and the M16 as well as the AK-47 are not the same rifle. The AR-15, allowed to be
owned by civilians, is only a semi-automatic while the other two are full
automatics. The caliber of the AR-15 is smaller than the other two, only being
slightly larger than a 22 caliber. While the M16 is only somewhat larger, the
full auto makes the entire difference between the two guns.
Full autos are already banned in our nation...although in some states if upon
a background check and an ATF permit to handle, full-autos are allowed.
The distortion in the video bothers me. I don't like truth painted in a
gray shade - even if it is gun medal gray. ;-) Just please tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And
PLEASE do NOT try to make your opinion look like fact.
Now because they are veterans speaking in this video, it pulls at our heart strings.
But truthfully, one can find anyone in any position or occupation that will differ from that of others' opinions. The fact that they are veterans does not make
them correct. Further, (and I am not saying they were paid) but people say things
for money all the time. I don't know if that is the case in this situation. I actually believe that they believe
what they are saying. That doesn't make them right. Very simply, the fact that it is NOT a full automatic firearm makes the difference between the two rifles extremely notable. It is an IMPORTANT distinction!
My husband, also a veteran, says the opposite (as I am sure many would) of these veterans and points to
the fact that there is a little lever on the side of the M16 that makes it
fully auto. And he points out the caliber difference.
From the NRA:
"While the AR-15 and M16 are nearly identical in external appearance, they are internally different. The hammer and trigger mechanisms are designed differently, and the bolt carrier and internal lower receiver of the semi-automatic versions are milled differently, so that the firing mechanisms are not interchangeable. The AR-15 can only switch between safe and fire functions.
There is a vast difference between fully automatic and semi-automatic firearms. In order to fire a semi-automatic firearm, you must pull and release the trigger after each shot. You cannot hold the trigger for rapid fire. Semi-automatic firearms are functionally no different on any platform, whether it be a pistol, rifle or shotgun. Manufacturing of automatic firearms for the general public has been tightly regulated for 80 years and fully-automatic firearms have not been manufactured for the general public at all since the Hughes Amendment to the Firearms Owners Protection Act became law in 1986."Regardless, none of this is really the point. The point is the 2nd Amendment states, simply and effectively: "The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." It is really that simple. The continual creation of laws to ban firearms is a very slippery slope. And we know that those who do so will not stop until every firearm is off the street. They think! They hope! But the truth is we will NEVER get all the guns out of the hands of the criminal, even if the left was ever successful in getting weapons from the hands of citizens.
What the left doesn't understand, as well as many of my
friends, is that the 2nd Amendment is NOT about hunting. It is about protecting
ourselves from a tyrannical government should that happen at any time in our
lives. It is what keeps us safe; it is what keeps us strong. The 2nd Amendment is what keeps
the people in control of their own nation and destiny.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now let's look at some facts regarding the AR-15 from a quick Google search:
From that search:
"Rifles that meet most of these criteria, but not all, are technically not assault rifles, despite frequently being called such. For example: ... Semi-automatic-only rifles like the Colt AR-15 are not assault rifles; they do not have select-fire capabilities."
What does the AR stand for?
"The “AR” in “AR-15” rifle stands for ArmaLite rifle, after the company that developed it in the 1950s. “AR” does NOT stand for “assault rifle” or “automatic rifle.” AR-15-style rifles are NOT “assault weapons” or “assault rifles"."
Is an AR 15 a military grade weapon?
It is a
semi-automatic version of the United States military M16 rifle
that is marketed to civilian and law-enforcement customers. Colt's Manufacturing
Company currently uses the AR-15 trademark for its line of
semi-automatic AR-15 rifles.
Is an AR 15 fully automatic?
"It is a semi-automatic
version of the United States military M16 rifle that is marketed to civilian
and law-enforcement customers. Colt's Manufacturing Company currently uses the AR-15
trademark for its line of semi-automatic AR-15 rifles." (Yes, I know. That's a repeat. It seems necessary)
What caliber is the AR- 15?
"One such firearm is the AR15, which was developed in the
late 1950s and early 1960s as the new rifle for the United States military,
replacing the M1 and M14 rifles, both of which fired 30 caliber bullets.
The AR15 was chambered with a new type of ammo, called 223 Remington or
5.56 NATO."
Can an AR 15 shoot 150 rounds in 15 seconds?
"The AR-15
(as most semi-automatic rifles) has an effective rate of fire of only ~15
rounds per minute. ... Because a semiautomatic rifle fires once per
trigger pull. To get 150 shots in 15 seconds, you'd need to pull that
trigger 10 times per second. Nov 2, 2018" (That's impossible.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a link to the NRA: (YES a credible source) for a page of definitions, while also using
definitions from the US Army.
As tragic as the mass shootings are, handguns are responsible for more deaths than the AR-15.
You will find an interesting, factual article - link here - by Aaron Bandler at the Daily Wire. It is a short, factual, easy read.
What can be done?
Enacting more legislation is NOT working. We have more gun laws now than we have EVER had. It didn't use to be this way!!! To expect criminals are going to follow ANY gun law is insanity. The criminal has already broken a number of laws before reaching the stage of a mass shooting. Gun-free zones are setting people up for attack. It's like sending your kid out to go play a game of marbles on the freeway. How about we try this?
- Outlaw Gun Free Zones.
- Put retired police or military veterans in our
schools as guards.
- Proper, Truthful Education. (When I was in
school the NRA taught a class in the public school classroom
beginning in grade 7.)
- Enforce the laws already on the books!!!!
- Stricter punishment for offenders, including the
death penalty in certain situations.
- Study solutions for mental health; effects of
video games on our youth; effects of a growing acceptance of marijuana and
increasing use of it. (Why isn't the increasing use of marijuana -
especially a more powerful drug than of the 1960's - ever considered for
anything???)
- Identify weapons correctly! The AR-15 is NOT a
machine gun; it is also used for hunting by some; it IS a means of home
protection and in case of governmental tyranny (intended as caution by our
Founders); handguns have caused far more deaths. Once one gun is banned,
the left will go after the next.
- Place the blame where it belongs and call
something by the correct label. It is a HEART issue.
- Invite God back into our schools, our government
and our politics.
Can we just look more
diligently for all truth and quit accepting half-truths and shades
of gray?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
https://www.nrablog.com/articles/2016/1/why-the-ar15-is-americas-most-popular-rifle/https://www.nraila.org/for-the-press/glossary/
https://www.dailywire.com/news/6749/debunking-top-5-myths-about-ar-15-aaron-bandler
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