TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey politicians are at it again. They are once again pushing for an ‘assault rifle’ ban and touting the AR-15 as the weapon of destruction most commonly preferred by mass shooters. Politicians like New Jersey Congressman Andy Kim who is calling not only for an assault rifle ban but a federal firearms identification process that will make it almost impossible for law-abiding citizens to own guns.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed one of the nation’s strictest gun bills into law, and he’s not done. He also wants to see a federal ban on the AR-15, described in the media as a ‘military automatic weapon of mass destruction’.
“There were those who said that we were being too ambitious, that the gun lobby was too strong, and that our political system would not have the will to take on and win this fight,” Murphy said. “But again, we believed differently. And guess what, today we are making gun safety package 3.0 the law of the land.”
In recent years, the AR-15 rifle has been a focal point in the national conversation about gun control and firearm legislation. This debate has often been accompanied by misinformation and misconceptions about the rifle’s capabilities, history, and use.
The weapon has been the source of disinformation and misinformation by the media, politicians, and anti-gun activists. Here are some of the top parroted misconceptions regarding the AR-15.
“AR” Stands for “Assault Rifle” or “Automatic Rifle” One of the most prevalent myths is that “AR” in AR-15 stands for “Assault Rifle” or “Automatic Rifle.” In reality, AR stands for “ArmaLite Rifle,” after the company that developed it in the 1950s. The AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle, meaning it fires one bullet per trigger pull.
No, Joy Behar, an AR-15 won’t obliterate a deer either.
The AR-15 is a Military Weapon Another common misconception is that the AR-15 is a military weapon. The original AR-15, designed by ArmaLite, was indeed a precursor to the M16, which is used by the military. However, the civilian AR-15 is a semi-automatic version and differs significantly from the fully automatic M16 and M14 variants. In New Jersey, there are more powerful weapons, more capable of mass casualty events than an AR-15. New Jersey also has a 10 round magazine limit, meaning any mass shootings using standard 30 round capacity magazines would have been illegal to begin with in the state.
The AR-15 is More Lethal Than Other Semi-Automatic Rifles There is also a belief that the AR-15 is inherently more lethal than other semi-automatic rifles. Ballistically, the standard AR-15, which fires a .223 caliber or 5.56mm NATO round, is comparable in lethality to other rifles that fire similar-sized rounds. Its perceived increased lethality is often attributed to factors like magazine capacity, which is not unique to the AR-15.
AR-15s Are the Primary Weapon Used in U.S. Mass Shootings Statistical analysis reveals that AR-15s are not the most commonly used weapon in U.S. mass shootings. Handguns are more frequently used in such incidents. However, some high-profile mass shootings have involved AR-15 style rifles, which may contribute to this misconception. While mass shootings in New Jersey are extremely uncommon, it is unknown if an AR-15 has ever been used in a New Jersey mass shooting.
AR-15 Rifles Are Unregulated Contrary to some beliefs, AR-15s are subject to the same federal regulations as other semi-automatic rifles. Purchasers must undergo background checks, and there are state-specific regulations that vary across the United States. In New Jersey, AR-15s are heavily regulated.