…an AR-15.
A what?
…an AR-15.
Ohhhh, this is an Assault Rifle.

Uhhhh, no. First of all, A is for ᴀʀᴍᴀʟɪᴛᴇ, the original manufacturer of the rifle back in the 50’s.

Colt snapped up the design in ‘59, but kept the designation. And even as the design patents expired in ‘77, maintained a copyright on the brand.

Today every big name gunsmith customs their own. But they’re all still generically known as AR-15’s, making the platform perhaps the most popular rifle in American history.

This is a semi-auto.
A what?
…a semi-auto.
A what?
…a semi-auto.
Ohhhh, this is a machine gun.

…but still not a machine gun or assault rifle, by definition. The version adopted by the military is capable of full-auto. The AR-15 is not.

And since an AR functions just the same as any other semi-auto, to ban just the AR-15 would be an exercise in legislative silliness. Further, without dealing with the (tens of) millions of known AR’s already in private hands, a ban against any more would be fruitless.

This is the Constitution.
The what?
…the Constitution.
The what?
…the Constitution.
Ohhh, this is a Living Document.

A living Constitution is a dead Constitution. And an undead Constitution is a Constitution for zombies.

Any Assault Weapon ban would have to contend with the entire US Constitution, and not just the Second Amendment:

Article I, Section IX prohibits declaring legally owned property to be illegal just to be taken. And the Fifth Amendment prohibits “takings” for public use (questionable) without just compensation (improbable).

Even if attempted, most firearms are unregistered. Door to door confiscation would then be necessary, risking violent encounters with armed resistance, and ending in bloodshed in the name of ending bloodshed.

And after the dust settles, and all the AR’s have been rounded up and melted down, the next mass shooting will still happen with an AR-15 …of which there will be no shortage. You see, only the law-abiding follow the law. An irony lost on lawmakers writing law for outlaws.

Criminalizing the just only justifies the wicked and endangers the innocent. Which is why the Founders in their wisdom concluded the Second Safeguard to the Authorized Version with “…shall not be infringed.”

Ejectile Dysfunction
Do you suffer from ED? It’s nothing to be ashamed about. Every man who’s ever had a 1911 in his hand has suffered a failure to eject.

Gone Fishin’
Well, what is democracy? except never having to say your sorry. But then, we’re not. …not a democracy (and not sorry).