The AR-15 has not changed, so what has?

[CaveDog]

I really don't expect to change any minds. Attitudes today are well entrenched but nevertheless I think the question is worth asking.

Despite the demonization of firearms and the AR-15 rifle in particular by many these days an indisputable fact remains. The AR-15 rifle has not fundamentally changed since it's introduction to the civilian market in the 1960s. Ergonomics have changed somewhat but it has not somehow become a more deadly weapon than it ever was. Nevertheless, you could mail order one with no background check yet the AR was in civilian hands for 40 years before one was ever used in a mass shooting. You cannot attribute mass shootings to the design of the rifle itself or we would have been seeing these shootings decades before we actually did. That begs the question, if the AR-15 has not fundamentally changed (and by extension the semi-automatic firearms which have been around equally as long, if not longer) then what has changed to make mass shootings so common?

[gamewell45]

I really don't expect to change any minds. Attitudes today are well entrenched but nevertheless I think the question is worth asking.

Despite the demonization of firearms and the AR-15 rifle in particular by many these days an indisputable fact remains. The AR-15 rifle has not fundamentally changed since it's introduction to the civilian market in the 1960s. Ergonomics have changed somewhat but it has not somehow become a more deadly weapon than it ever was. Nevertheless, you could mail order one with no background check yet the AR was in civilian hands for 40 years before one was ever used in a mass shooting. You cannot attribute mass shootings to the design of the rifle itself or we would have been seeing these shootings decades before we actually did. That begs the question, if the AR-15 has not fundamentally changed (and by extension the semi-automatic firearms which have been around equally as long, if not longer) then what has changed to make mass shootings so common?

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say due to cutbacks in mental health services in this country over the past 30 years, there are more mentally unstable people out there who acquire weapons such as the AR-15 and use them in criminal acts. Plus with all the violence on television and video games, people (especially younger people) have become desensitized to violence and accept it to a degree. Just my two cents.

[bulletbob]

People have the mental health of people and hollywoods inlnfluance and how the media covers events.

[Tahuyaman]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say due to cutbacks in mental health services in this country over the past 30 years, there are more mentally unstable people out there who acquire weapons such as the AR-15 and use them in criminal acts. Plus with all the violence on television and video games, people (especially younger people) have become desensitized to violence and accept it to a degree. Just my two cents.

I'll agree that mental healt treatment has extremely in adaquate and actually getting worse. In your mind is it a local government issue or is a one size fits all federal program the solution?

[gamewell45]

I'll agree that mental healt treatment has extremely in adaquate and actually getting worse. In your mind is it a local government issue or is a one size fits all federal program the solution?

I think its more of a state issue. Some states may be better at funding mental health programs then others but I'm guessing it depends on the state you live in.

[Tahuyaman]

I think its more of a state issue. Some states may be better at funding mental health programs then others but I'm guessing it depends on the state you live in.

I think it's an issue strictly for states and counties.


Many states and counties have a law which says a certain percentage of all infrastructure projects must be dedicated to supporting the arts. Why? Why not eliminate that and replace it with mental health services?


Let's create responsible laws to legislate how tax payer money is spent

[gamewell45]

I think it's an issue strictly for states and counties.


Many states and counties have a law which says a certain percentage of all infrastructure projects must be dedicated to supporting the arts. Why? Why not eliminate that and replace it with mental health services?


Let's create responsible laws to legislate how tax payer money is spent

I'm not sure what the laws are where I live but it would be interesting to see what they are.

[Toober]

I really don't expect to change any minds. Attitudes today are well entrenched but nevertheless I think the question is worth asking.

Despite the demonization of firearms and the AR-15 rifle in particular by many these days an indisputable fact remains. The AR-15 rifle has not fundamentally changed since it's introduction to the civilian market in the 1960s. Ergonomics have changed somewhat but it has not somehow become a more deadly weapon than it ever was. Nevertheless, you could mail order one with no background check yet the AR was in civilian hands for 40 years before one was ever used in a mass shooting. You cannot attribute mass shootings to the design of the rifle itself or we would have been seeing these shootings decades before we actually did. That begs the question, if the AR-15 has not fundamentally changed (and by extension the semi-automatic firearms which have been around equally as long, if not longer) then what has changed to make mass shootings so common?

true, i got my first one in 65...its basically the same as the new ones...

[Tahuyaman]

I'm not sure what the laws are where I live but it would be interesting to see what they are.

Washington state will spend 113 million dollars funding art projects ove the next year and a half. Many counties and cities have enacted the same law. Some of projects are a tin sculpture in a run down area of a salmon catching a man on a rod and reel. They say it will help make the people in the neighborhood feel pride in ownership.

If these sculptures are not in a high visibility area, they get destroyed.

[Toober]

Washington state will spend 113 million dollars funding art projects ove the next year and a half. Many counties and cities have enacted the same law. Some of projects are a tin sculpture in a run down area of a salmon catching a man on a rod and reel. They say it will help make the people in the neighborhood feel pride in ownership.

dont they have better things to spend their tax dollars on?

homelessness, infrastructure?