![]() That is why laws to ban or curtail sales of the AR-15 run into constitutional barriers. ![]() While it does more damage than a typical handgun, it is not the most powerful gun sold in terms of caliber many guns have equal or greater calibre. Many gun owners like the AR-15 because it is modular depending on the model, you can swap out barrels, bolts and high-capacity magazines, or add a variety of accessories. Many are purchased for personal and home protection it also is popular for target shooting and hunting. These AR-15s clearly are not being purchased for armored deer. ![]() The AR-15 is the most popular gun in America and the number is continuing to rise rapidly, with one AR-15 purchased in every five new firearms sales. Heller, recognizing the Second Amendment as encompassing an individual right to bear arms. In 2008, the Supreme Court handed down a landmark ruling in District of Columbia v. Efforts to ban this model already have failed in the courts on constitutional grounds, though litigation is continuing on that issue. The call for “common sense” responses to this plague of violence is welcomed, but common sense also requires a common understanding of the realities of gun ownership and gun control. “Deer aren’t running through the forest with Kevlar vests on, for God’s sake. It’s just sick.” “What in God’s name do you need an assault weapon for, except to kill someone?” the president asked. In discussing “common sense gun laws,” the president once again denounced the availability of what he collectively called “assault weapons,” a common reference to such popular models as the AR-15. There is a limited range of movement for legislation, given the constitutional right to bear arms and controlling constitutional precedent. If we want to get something done, we will need to be honest and nonpartisan, a challenge that previously has proven too much for our leaders. ![]() But it is not the gun lobby but the Constitution that is the greatest obstacle to some of these calls for gun bans or limits. The gun lobby, backed by millions of gun owners, is indeed a powerful political force. It is a virtual mantra after massacres, as politicians pledge to stop gun violence while denouncing their opponents as facilitating the carnage. ![]()
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