Tag Archives: AR-15

Here’s an answer to the frequently asked question: Why would anyone need an assault rifle? From Duane Norman at fmshooter.com:

A recent shooting involving an AR-15 left one dead and two wounded, but it did not make national headlines.  This story was likely not covered by mainstream media because it involved a “defensive gun use” (DGU) inside the home of the victims:

Three men say they were asleep inside a mobile home in Glen St. Mary about 4 a.m. Sunday when they heard a voice outside yell “Sheriff’s Office!” before the front door burst open.

In stormed a masked gunman who fired off a single round before two of the men inside, one armed with an AR-15 rifle and the other with a handgun, emerged from two bedrooms and opened fire.

Gunfire ripped into the masked gunman and two other intruders, who crumpled to the floor with multiple gunshot wounds.

The Sheriff’s Office said the five were among seven masked individuals armed with guns who barged into a mobile home on County Road 125 about 4 a.m. to confront four people staying there over a feud.

The AR-15 and similar platforms have been ballyhooed as a weapons system that “no one needs”, in spite of the fact that it is often an ideal choice for home defense, as this particular instance demonstrates.  This flies in the face of claims made by former Vice President Joe Biden, who once quipped that “you don’t need an AR-15” for home defense:

“I promise you whoever’s coming in is not gonna,” Biden said. “You don’t need an AR-15 (assault rifle). It’s harder to aim. It’s harder to use and in fact you don’t need 30 rounds to protect yourself.”

“Buy a shotgun,” he said, lowering his voice almost to whisper.

Perhaps “Crazy Joe” feels comfortable defending his home with a shotgun, but a woman who is 5’0” weighing 100lbs (or less) will likely have a much harder time aiming and firing a shotgun than she would with a semiautomatic .223 rifle.

The ease of use and short range accuracy of the .223 cartridge has led to its popularity and widespread adaptation by civilians, military and law enforcement.  Notably, the cartridge is not permitted for hunting of deer and larger animals due to its smaller size relative to larger cartridges.

The truth is, an attacker or mass murderer can always plan around a magazine restriction (if they even use a gun at all).  But in those pivotal moments defending your home facing down multiple attackers, and when a magazine change adds valuable seconds, Biden’s “30 round” restriction could be the difference between life and death. 

To continue reading: AR-15 For Home Defense: When Defensive Gun Use Is Labeled As A “Mass Shooting”