Why I “Need” an AR-15

AR15Hoplophobes, due to willful ignorance and fueled by recent emotionally-wrenching news, can do little more than regurgitate what’s been fed to them by the media and politicians.  Rather than looking into the real cause of violence, they reflexively ask, “Why does anyone need an AR-15?”  In reality, the question is more of a statement.  And, they don’t want to hear an answer.  Their minds are usually made up (by others).

I was once “anti-gun.”

Years ago, I might have asked the same question.  At one time, I hallucinated that if we “banned all guns,” it would end crime.  I’ve grown older (and I hope wiser) since then, and I decided to educate myself.  I’ve realized that the utopian notion of ridding the world of all guns is as likely as banning air.  I’ve also delved deeply into the history of the founding of our country and our Constitution.  But, that’s not the subject of this essay.

If it barks like a duck…

Rather, I wish to elaborate on my answer to the question in the title.  I’ve learned a fair bit about the technical aspects of modern small arms.  I believe that if anyone wants to opine, dictate, or vote on any issue, he or she should be well-versed on the technicalities of that issue.

Imagine if someone wanted to make new rules for football without knowing the game.  Suggesting that the AR-15 or similar rifles should be banned as “assault weapons,” is akin to suggesting, “We should move the ‘free throw line’ to 25 feet for football games.” It’s gibberish that reveals an abject lack of knowledge of the game or topic.

The media and politicians have led many people to believe that cosmetic features of a rifle endow it with nearly magical or evil (and more deadly) qualities.  The truth is that they have intentionally blurred the definition as to be so flexible it can be used to designate nearly any gun as “extra-deadly.”

Assault is a behavior.

The AR-15 (along with other rifles incorrectly designated as “assault weapons”) is functionally identical to a traditional rifle with polished walnut wood stocks and a blued barrel.  The only differences are cosmetic.

The correct term for the AR-15 and similar guns is “modern sporting rifle.”  These rifles are typically black in color and have plastic stocks instead of wood.  They also typically have accessory rails for mounting things like flashlights, lasers, and optics (scopes).  Mind you, the same thing could be done with a traditional rifle with a few tools or even duct tape.

The joke among gun enthusiasts is to call these rifles “EBRs” (evil black rifles).  Some consider them “Barbie dolls for men.”  No matter how we dress up these rifles, they continue to function identically to any other traditional semi-auto rifle, such as those used for various firearms activities.  To further mock the naivete of the gun-grabbers, many gun forums have a section called, “Black Rifles,” where they discuss modern sporting rifles.

Ban-scary-guns!

Both of these rifles function identically. The only differences are cosmetic. But, some people call the one on the bottom an “assault rifle” because of its looks.

The media, politicians, and those they influence often refer to the AR-15 as an “automatic rifle.”  It is my belief that the conflation of semi-auto and automatic is not an innocent accident.  To be clear… the AR-15 is a semi-auto rifle.  That means it fires one round per trigger pull.  It is NOT an “automatic” rifle.  The military version, the M-16, is a true “select-fire” rifle.  That means it can be fired in semi-auto or full-auto modes.  Automatic rifles are machine guns.

Pressing in their emotional arguments, the gun-grabbers describe the AR15 as a “weapon of war that only belongs on the battlefield.”  The fact is that the semi-auto AR15 is NOT used by our armed forces.  It is not a battle gun.  It is not an “assault rifle.”  The AR-15 is a semi-auto-ONLY rifle.  Got it?

So, to get back to the burning question at hand:  “Why does anyone need an AR-15?”  First, a hallmark of being a red-blooded, materialistic, capitalistic American is that we own many things we don’t absolutely “need” by the strict definition of “need.”  We don’t need a lot of things.  But, if there’s one thing I don’t need… it is to justify ANY of my possessions to others who hold no purview or authority over my life.

We don’t have a “Bill of Needs.”  But, we DO have a Bill of Rights!

But, I digress.

AR-15s… What are they good for?  Absolutely something.

At the 300-yard range. Fun!

Several people have suggested to me that an AR-15 is not suitable for hunting nor self-defense.  I’m not a hunter, and I reject hunting as the commonly used litmus test for gun ownership.  The 2nd Amendment is not about hunting.  Dammit… I digressed again.

As for self-defense, there are many experts who agree that the AR-15 is, indeed, suitable for self-defense in some scenarios.  While handguns offer some advantages, they are a compromise, and especially when it comes to “stopping power.”  The AR-15 is currently the most popular rifle in the United States for good reason.  The AR-15 is an ergonomic and versatile rifle that is lightweight and maneuverable in tight spaces.  It can easily accept mounted accessories like flashlights and lasers that can be helpful in bump-in-the-night situations.  An AR-15 is accurate and delivers more punch than any handgun.  It’s more precise than a shotgun.

Click here to read about how the 15 year old son of a police officer, who was home along watching over his little sister, defended himself and his sister with dad’s AR-15.

Click here to read about how an 8-month-pregnant woman defended her husband, with an AR-15, against two home invaders who were pistol-whipping him.  One of the perps died for his efforts.  The husband received multiple facial bone fractures and lacerations but lived.

I am not suggesting that the AR-15 is the “ideal” home defense gun.  There is no ideal home defense gun.  Each type of gun offers advantages and disadvantages.  My point is that the AR-15 is among those that may logically be chosen as a self-defense gun in certain situations.  The AR-15 is, in fact, a valid and effective personal defense weapon.

As seen on TV.

police with AR-15Consider what you’ve seen on the news many times.  When police respond to a location with a bad guy, which type of gun do they often have in their hands?  Why do THEY choose the AR-15?  If the police have deemed the AR-15 a suitable self-defense weapon, logically it may be equally suitable for law-abiding citizens.  Their bad guys are the same species as our bad guys.  If a bad guy breaks into your home, you can’t wait for the police to arrive with their AR-15s.  So, citizens rightfully may choose to have their own AR-15s.

koreans with guns

The now famously-termed, “Roof Koreans!”

During the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, there was a section of town where Koreans owned a number of retail stores.  The ONLY stores that did not get looted were the ones guarded by their owners, armed with modern sporting rifles.

I have an AR-15 because I want one.  I hope I never actually “need” it (or any other gun).  Why did you get an AR-15?  Chime in below!

UPDATE:  Because of this article, I got interviewed by CNBC! 

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6 Responses to Why I “Need” an AR-15

  1. Michael says:

    100% agree Mike.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family. See you in a couple of months in Vegas at DT meeting.

  2. Don Brotherton says:

    My 12 year old son and I enjoy shooting our bushmaster carbine. Hope we never have to use it for home defense. I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

    • The Dental Warrior says:

      Right on, Don. I like a quote by Sir Winston Churchill:

      “A gentleman rarely needs a gun. But, when he does, he needs it very badly.”

  3. Mark Frias says:

    I love your example of the Korean store owners. That is exactly why people need an “assault” weapon and high capacity magazines Nancy Pelosi.

    • The Dental Warrior says:

      Hi Mark,

      Thanks for chiming in. The Koreans are a great example, I agree.

      But, I will not use the politically-charged term, “assault weapon.” There is no such device. That term does not exist in the lexicon of guns. It is a term that was fabricated by politicians who seek ONLY to infringe upon our Rights. Furthermore, a 30-round magazine is NOT “high capacity.” That’s another term invented by the antis. A 30-round magazine is a STANDARD capacity magazine. That’s a fact. The AR-15 was designed for the 30-round magazine. It is the standard magazine that comes with the rifle. The antis also regularly misuse the term “automatic” in order to get the “sheeple” to believe that we have “evil machine guns.”

      It may seem like I’m being pedantic or getting caught up in semantics. But, I believe terminology used in this discussion should be accurate. If we adopt THEIR incorrect terminology, we are unwittingly advancing THEIR cause, which is to disarm us completely.

  4. Derek Stokes says:

    An older article but VERY relevant in 2018 and beyond because statists will NEVER stop until America is disarmed. The question was “why did [I] get an AR-15?” I never even really wanted one as I used to have multiple other more “powerful” rifles that were lost in an unfortunate boating accident. The initial reason I got one or 6 was that some people who obviously know more than me and who care about me deeply as an individual, started saying they were going to ban them. Well, given my penchant for doing what I’m told I can’t do, I got one..unfortunately it was during the gun and ammo rush of a few years ago. It was a build, not already assembled…as my other ones were (damn boat)! So yeah, don’t threaten me with “we’re going to ban ____” because I may just get 1…or 17!

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