AR-15: Weapon of War or Useless?

Joe Biden has said on multiple occasions that the AR-15 is useless against the government. He famously said, “If you want to take on the Government you don’t need an AR-15, you need an F-15”.

First of all, where can I get my F-15?

However, the gun control lobby, the White House and many others also claim that the AR-15 is a “Weapon of War”. So which is is Joe? Is the AR-15 a “Weapon of War” or is it useless in a war against the government? It can’t be both.

For the record, the AR-15 is NOT a weapon of war. It is not used by any standing army or other military force in the world. While it has a very similar appearance and uses the same round as the M16 assault rifle, the AR-15 lacks one very important feature. The M16 and its variants are capable of ‘selective fire,’ meaning the person wielding the rifle can select from single shot, burst, or fully automatic modes. In contrast, the AR-15 is only capable of semi-automatic fire, meaning one round is fired per trigger pull. This is akin to saying we should ban the Chevrolet Monte Carlo because the NASCAR version, while similar in appearance, is too powerful for regular road use.

The terms assault weapon and assault rifle are often used interchangeably in public discourse, but they have distinct definitions and are often misunderstood.

Assault Rifle:

An assault rifle is a specific term used in military contexts to describe a rifle that meets the following criteria:

1. Selective Fire: It can switch between semi-automatic (one round per trigger pull), burst fire (multiple rounds per trigger pull, often 3), and fully automatic (continuous fire as long as the trigger is held).
2. Intermediate Cartridge: Assault rifles fire intermediate cartridges, which are more powerful than those used in pistols but less powerful than those used in traditional rifles. The 5.56mm NATO round, used by rifles like the M16 and M4, is an example.
3. Detachable Magazine: Assault rifles are fed by detachable magazines, often with capacities of 20, 30, or more rounds.

Examples of military assault rifles include the M16, the select-fire versions of the AK-47, and the M4. Civilian versions of these firearms, such as the semi-automatic AR-15 and AK-pattern rifles, lack the selective fire capability and are not considered assault rifles.

Assault Weapon:

The term assault weapon is more loosely defined and primarily used in legal and political discussions rather than military ones. It was popularized during debates on gun control, particularly in the U.S., and it typically refers to civilian firearms that resemble military-style assault rifles in appearance but lack some key military features.

Key differences and points about assault weapons:

1. Semi-Automatic Only: Unlike assault rifles, assault weapons do not have selective fire. They are semi-automatic, meaning they fire one round per trigger pull.
2. Appearance-Based Classification: Many legal definitions of assault weapons focus on cosmetic features rather than mechanical function. Features like a pistol grip, folding stock, flash suppressor, or detachable magazine can lead to a firearm being classified as an assault weapon.
3. Legal Definitions Vary: The definition of assault weapon can vary by jurisdiction. For example, the U.S. Federal Assault Weapons Ban (which expired in 2004) defined assault weapons based on a combination of specific features, such as a detachable magazine plus two or more other features like a bayonet lug, folding stock, or flash suppressor.

Comparison:

• Functionality: An assault rifle is a fully functional military weapon with selective fire capability, designed for combat. In contrast, an assault weapon is typically a semi-automatic firearm and is often defined by appearance rather than function. This means a civilian semi-automatic rifle may be labeled an “assault weapon” based on how it looks, even though it doesn’t function like an assault rifle.
• Usage: Assault rifles are used by military forces for combat and are heavily regulated or prohibited for civilian ownership in most countries. Assault weapons, on the other hand, are typically civilian firearms and are subject to regulation based on local or national laws, which can vary significantly.
• Terminology Confusion: The confusion between the two terms often stems from the visual similarities between civilian rifles labeled as “assault weapons” and military “assault rifles.” Both may look alike, but the underlying mechanics—especially the lack of selective fire in assault weapons—create a significant difference.

In summary, assault rifles are military-grade, fully or burst-automatic firearms with selective fire, while assault weapons is a legal term used to describe civilian firearms that resemble military rifles but are usually semi-automatic only and lack the full functionality of a true assault rifle.