# The Most Wanted Gun In America **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 3, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254 "2013-02-03T21:15:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254/41 "2013-02-04T00:48:06Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > There’s no “implication.” The fact is that the AR-15’s surge in popularity is the result of its use to murder a classroom full of little children, I stand by my point that it is very curious that while the proposed assalt weapons ban would be **on a wide range of weapons** , the surge in sales is heavily weighted towards AR-15 variants, even, apparently, if one accounts for its previous popularity. A perfectly logical hypothesis for that phenomenon is its increased profile due to the publicity given to the weapon around the Sandy Hook massacre. > > Whether that’s because of the proposed assault weapons ban or not, the weapon is now famous and cmmercially popular in large part for its use in shooting children, even though your personal motive for buying one isn’t to go shoot children. If you don’t like that, well, that’s life. The vast majority of “assault weapons” sold are based on( or visually imitative of) the AR platform. And it’s not popular because it was used in a mass killing but because it might be subject to legislative action. By the way, it was already a popular model/style before all this, why didn’t you object then? ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254/42 "2013-02-04T00:51:46Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > You cannot be serious. There is no “surge in popularity” of AR-15 sales due to Sandyhook. There IS a surge in sales of this popular rifle, which has been popular for a very long time, because many people feel that they should have the right to own one and that the US government is about to attempt to ban them. The Sandyhook massacre was just the catalyst for the government to feel like it “has to do SOMETHING”. Do you really, honestly believe that people are buying it because they think it’d make a great weapon to murder kids with? Are you out of your freaking mind? > > Don’t let the rarity of massacres, school shootings and the fact that this (and any other rifle) are used in such a ridiculously small percentage of shootings get in your way. And no, the AR-15 in a close-range shooting like Sandyhook is NOT more effective than a well-supplied guy with a couple semi-auto pistols would be. > > The AR-15 is getting a bad rap here and it’s plainly obvious. Well said, I totally agree. I was getting all fired up to post something similar but you said it better than I would have. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254/43 "2013-02-04T01:18:35Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > If gun owners were truly that blood-thirsty, there would be hundreds of massacres every day. Well there are about 10,000 gun related deaths each year. The UK with around 20% of the population of the US has far less than 20% of the number of gun deaths - less than 100 per year in fact. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254/44 "2013-02-04T01:22:18Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > You cannot be serious. There is no “surge in popularity” of AR-15 sales due to Sandyhook. There IS a surge in sales of this popular rifle, which has been popular for a very long time, because many people feel that they should have the right to own one and that the US government is about to attempt to ban them. So there’s no connection between the Sandy Hook massacre and the move towards gun control? That’s a coincidence? Of course not, as you yourself admit. A led to B which led to C. I’m really sorry the facts are uncomfortable, but the facts are not designed for your comfort. > [@](#): > > Do you really, honestly believe that people are buying it because they think it’d make a great weapon to murder kids with? No, which is why, you’ll note, I never said that. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254/45 "2013-02-04T01:23:03Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Well said, I totally agree. I was getting all fired up to post something similar but you said it better than I would have. :embarrassed smilie: ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254/46 "2013-02-04T01:27:23Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > So there’s no connection between the Sandy Hook massacre and the move towards gun control? That’s a coincidence? Of course not, as you yourself admit. > > A led to B which led to C. I’m really sorry the facts are uncomfortable, but the facts are not designed for your comfort. > No, which is why, you’ll note, I never said that. You called it the “AR-15 Gradeschooler” for Christ’s sake! And the only connection you are attempting to draw is that it just happened to be used in a couple high profile mass shootings recently. The only connection to Sandyhook is that the liberal administration has decided that because it was used in these recent shootings, despite its decades long popularity and relative obscurity in terms of murders, has to “ban the scary looking shit”, which again, is utterly meaningless. I could waltz into a classroom with my handgun (I own exactly ONE gun) and do the same thing as long as I bring ammo with me. But of course, I would never do that because I have children I love and I don’t wish death upon anyone, except for maybe these people that perpetrate these crimes because they are _crazy_. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254/47 "2013-02-04T01:27:53Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > No, which is why, you’ll note, I never said that. No, **Der Trihs** said that, **Johnny LA** called him on it, and you replied saying “You have to admit it’s curious that…” That sounds like you were supporting Der Trihs’ statement to me, coupled with your “Gradeschooler” comment. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254/48 "2013-02-04T01:28:03Z")
> [@Imasquare](#): > > **Well there are about 10,000 gun related deaths each year.** The UK with around 20% of the population of the US has far less than 20% of the number of gun deaths - less than 100 per year in fact. Deaths, yes. Massacres, no. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254/49 "2013-02-04T01:29:33Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Eh, it’s MPSIMS, not GD or GQ. The comment was offensive, but RickJay is an otherwise pretty grounded dude. I think the issue here is that he’s Canadian. > > **hears groans of understanding from fellow posters** We already knew that. There is NO excuse, NO justification, for posting something that provocative. That was so clearly a troll that he should be ashamed of himself. But he’s not. In fact, he’s so shameless that he’s sticking to it, and without once acknowledging it was trolling he’ll come back in here and warn me for calling him out for what it was. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254/50 "2013-02-04T01:29:37Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Do you really, honestly believe that people are buying it because they think it’d make a great weapon to murder kids with? > > No, which is why, you’ll note, I never said that. Uh, yeah. You kinda did. > [@RickJay](#): > > There’s no “implication.” The fact is that the AR-15’s surge in popularity is the result of its use to murder a classroom full of little children… A perfectly logical hypothesis for that phenomenon is its increased profile due to the publicity given to the weapon around the Sandy Hook massacre. Edit: **Der Trihs** did say it explicitly. . ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254/51 "2013-02-04T01:56:50Z")
This is a trainwreck, and I’m going to close it. Take any unresolved issues to one of the sixty-ump other current threads on guns. **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator PS: I don’t think it’s possible to open a truly MPSIMS thread on guns these days, so if you’re going to open on, pls. take it to the Pit or GD, as appopriate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-wanted-gun-in-america/649254.md?page=2)