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As a commissioned military officer, I trained soldiers in the use of the AR-15 assault rifle (variation of the M16A1). Invented 1950, it was designed strictly for combat and was used extensively in Vietnam.
The rifle has a flash suppressor to avoid detection from the barrel flash. It uses ammunition magazines that hold 20 and 30 rounds. It has a forward assist to load any rounds that fail to load automatically. The AR-15 uses a 5.56 cal round, 5.7 centimeters long, and holds twice the amount of gunpowder of a .38 cal. pistol. The result is a deadlier projectile that is made to tumble on impact to deliver extensive damage within the target. With a maximum effective range of 460 meters, this weapon is designed to cause death and is not a weapon for self defense or hunting woodland animals. Just as anti-tank weapons and rockets, this weapon should be unavailable to the general public.
There will always be undetectable angry and insane people who will seek the weapon of maximum damage. Eliminating assault rifles from private use will minimize damage the deranged ones cause. It should not take massive life loss to finally establish protection from deadly automatic weapons.
Charles J. LaMark
1Lt., PAARNG, Retired