AR-15 rifle: Darling of US civilians and mass shooters alike, what you need to know about gun used to target Donald Trump at Pennsylvania
The AR-15 was the go-to weapon of many mass shooters who shocked the US recently
The AR-15 was the go-to weapon of many mass shooters who shocked the US recently
The AR-15 was the go-to weapon of many mass shooters who shocked the US recently
The AR-15 was the go-to weapon of many mass shooters who shocked the US recently
At a rally at Pennsylvania's Bethel Park, former US President and Republican leader Donald Trump survived an assassination bid on Saturday. He was targeted by a 20-year-old youth identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was gunned down by Secret Service moments after the attack. While Trump survived the shooting by suffering just a trivial injury on his ear, another man lost his life while two others were critically hurt.
According to reports, Thomas Matthew Crooks used a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle to target Trump. The gun was bought by his father at least six months ago, investigators believe.
For the unversed, the AR-15 is a popular gun among the American public. The Guardian labelled the semi-automatic rifle to be "one of America’s most popular, recognisable and notorious weapons." Here are five things to know about the gun that is also popular in video games and action movies.
1. What makes the AR-15, a design originally created for military use, a popular model among America's gun-wielding sects? Last year, NBC News in a report mentioned that it is the rifle's versatility and cachet that made it popular in the United States.
2. The relatively easy-to-use features and customisation options also add to its popularity. They have comparatively little recoil and can be customized with accessories, such as optics, scopes and pistol grips that improve comfort and accuracy, NBC News said.
3. Not very distinct from the fully automatic M-16 rifles supplied for the military, the AR-15 is manufactured by US-based COLT. AR in AR-15 stands for "ArmaLite Rifle", a small arms engineering company, formed in the 1950s, in Hollywood, California. The ArmaLite reportedly sold the AR-15 design and trademark to Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1959.
While it was also originally designed and created for the Army, it was soon copied by numerous manufacturers under different names -- further aiding its popularity and sales.
4. The AR-15 was the go-to weapon of many mass shooters who shocked the US in the past decade. In other words, the AR-15 claimed hundreds of innocent lives across the US in recent years. As of 2023, nine US states including Washington and Illinois have banned semi-automatic rifles including the AR-15.
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5. Compared to handguns, AR-15s inflict much more damage to human tissue. The bullets are fired at tremendous speed and the projectiles disembark as they pass through the victim's body, inflicting further damage. Compared to handguns, this feature makes AR-15 more lethal as victims may die not just due to severe injuries but also blood loss.