... So what should the National Gun of the United States be?

In another thread not far away, @carnivorousplant wrote:

I would not include semi automatic .22 rifles, kids have been shooting those for a hundred years.

If I understand the purpose of this thread here and what was written there correctly (probably not in both cases, I fear, but you lot are a patient group) this toy rifles deserve a special mention for outstanding didactical indoctrination.
Then again, I am not sure I grasp what a “National Gun of the USA” is supposed to mean.