AR-15 NSSF Modern Sporting Rifle ...updating the ARs image

[Monadnock]

from my gunbroker.com e-newsletter:

Updating AR-15's Image

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is trying to rebuild the image of the AR-15 rifle and you can help. The NSSF has coined the term Modern Sporting Rifle to more accurately describe the AR-15 platform and is asking that shooters do the same. The NSSF asks you to be an informed gun owner and to use the following facts to correct misconceptions about these rifles.

If AR-15-style modern sporting rifles are banned, your favorite traditional-looking hunting or target shooting semi-automatic firearm could be banned, too.

´ AR-15-platform rifles are among the most popular firearms being sold. They are today's modern sporting rifle.

´ The AR in "AR-15" rifle stands for Armalite rifle, after the company that developed it in the 1950s. "AR" does NOT stand for "assault rifle" or "automatic rifle."

´ AR-15-style rifles are NOT "assault weapons" or "assault rifles." An assault rifle is fully automatic -- a machine gun. Automatic firearms have been severely restricted from civilian ownership since 1934.

´ AR-15-style rifles look like military rifles, such as the M-16, but function like other semi-automatic civilian sporting firearms, firing only one round with each pull of the trigger.

´ Versions of modern sporting rifles are legal to own in all 50 states, provided the purchaser passes the mandatory FBI background check required for all retail firearm purchasers.

´ Since the 19th century, civilian sporting rifles have evolved from their military predecessors. The modern sporting rifle simply follows that tradition.

´ AR-15-style rifles are no more powerful than other hunting rifles of the same caliber and in most cases are chambered in calibers less powerful than common big-game hunting cartridges like the 30-06 Springfield and .300 Win. Mag.

´ And, they are a lot of fun to shoot!
========

An apparent attempt to conjoin ARs with other more traditional sporters.

Upside: May work to fend off Evil Gun folks for Stoner models.

Downside:Fighting uphill ...admitting that an image change is necessary, and what of the remaining "Black Guns"? Does a H&K 91/92 come under the sporting tent?

 

[Chris]

I just love to hold a pre-ban and post-ban AR in front of a class and ask them which one is the "Assault Weapon".

And then when you explain how purely cosmetic features are all that determines classification, virtually everyone in the class is completely floored.

And then you explain that the Colt H-Bar is a serious competition rifle and the .50 Beowulf is just for 'fun' and they REALLY get confused.

The average person simply has NO IDEA how crazy the law is/was.

 

[CRSIII]

]I just love to hold a pre-ban and post-ban AR in front of a class and ask them which one is the "Assault Weapon". [/B]
And then when you explain how purely cosmetic features are all that determines classification, virtually everyone in the class is completely floored.

And then you explain that the Colt H-Bar is a serious competition rifle and the .50 Beowulf is just for 'fun' and they REALLY get confused.

The average person simply has NO IDEA how crazy the law is/was.

Oooh, oooh, I know!
Neither!

 

[newenglandjeff]

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is trying to rebuild the image of the AR-15 rifle and you can help. The NSSF has coined the term Modern Sporting Rifle to more accurately describe the AR-15 platform and is asking that shooters do the same. The NSSF asks you to be an informed gun owner and to use the following facts to correct misconceptions about these rifles.

I was always partial to "Liberty Rifle"

 

[TomH]

I don't see the need to group ARs under "sporting" purposes. This implies they have no self defense value, which is untrue.

 

[drgrant]

IMO this kind of thing is a double edged sword. I see the point but in the process the idea throws real "assault rifles" under the bus, and I don't think that really serves any purpose.

I can 110% agree with trying to get people not to call them "assault weapons" because that was a dumb political term made up by antis- and it has no legitimate use at all in firearms vernacular. As far as gun folks/dealers/etc are concerned, there really is no such thing as an "assault weapon"...

-Mike

 

[Monadnock]

IMO this kind of thing is a double edged sword. I see the point but in the process the idea throws real "assault rifles" under the bus, and I don't think that really serves any purpose.

I can 110% agree with trying to get people not to call them "assault weapons" because that was a dumb political term made up by antis- and it has no legitimate use at all in firearms vernacular. As far as gun folks/dealers/etc are concerned, there really is no such thing as an "assault weapon"...

-Mike

Yeah, I agree ...as I stated in the initial post (after the article). What happens to the H&K 92s and such? And of course there is the simple reaction to having to modify language to make things "fit". It just cuts across my grain.

 

[jdubois]

I like to call them Sport Utility Rifles .

 

[Bob P]

I prefer to call them rifles.

 

[Ripach]

I don't give a crap if you call it the "happy puppy love machine", the anti-gun moonbat nut-jobs in this country will still try to ban it's possession in the name of protecting cynophobics. This is just another solution in search of a problem, call them what you like, somebody will be looking to ban them either way.

 

[Dressed to Kill]

I don't give a crap if you call it the "happy puppy love machine", the anti-gun moonbat nut-jobs in this country will still try to ban it's possession in the name of protecting cynophobics. This is just another solution in search of a problem, call them what you like, somebody will be looking to ban them either way.

I agree semantics isn't going to change their position , that's already set in stone.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

Versions of modern sporting rifles are legal to own in all 50 states

This statement is a reach, as it overlooks the fact that CA has banned anything resembling the AR-15 in functionality except for the grandfathered units and those owned by the well connected. (Yes, CA has an "AW" and "High Cap" license - but these are not something that members of the general public are eligible for)

 

[Tim94gt]

I prefer to call them rifles.

Yup.

 

[LKB3rd]

This is trying to make it into a "sporting rifle" which is playing right into the anti's nonsense that guns without a sporting purpose need to be banned.
Guns are for killing. Yes, we can also target shoot with them, and of course law abiding gun owners don't want to kill anyone. But we live in a big bad world where we do not control what happens, and as we all know defending yourself is sometimes necessary.
To me, this is more watering down, and catering to the anti's, and while it may seem to be a good thing at first, it ultimately ends up working against our rights.
We need to stand up and say without apologies or watering down that this is our right, period.

 

[Lamina]

This is trying to make it into a "sporting rifle" which is playing right into the anti's nonsense that guns without a sporting purpose need to be banned.
Guns are for killing. Yes, we can also target shoot with them, and of course law abiding gun owners don't want to kill anyone. But we live in a big bad world where we do not control what happens, and as we all know defending yourself is sometimes necessary.
To me, this is more watering down, and catering to the anti's, and while it may seem to be a good thing at first, it ultimately ends up working against our rights.
We need to stand up and say without apologies or watering down that this is our right, period.

bingo.

Not one step further. not one. and, let's fight to get those machine guns back... those are what the founding fathers wanted to protect, not "sporting rifles".

 

[Hanwei]

I prefer boom stick.

 

[Monadnock]

You have to wonder whether the groups like the NSSF have examined the history of the Left, and come to the conclusion that words are the most important thing, and facts be damned.

Progressives to Liberals back to Progressives ...there are a multitude of issues where the nomenclature has been rather elastic in order to fit their needs ...abortion, homosexual rights, firearms, etc.

Language as flexible and capable of distortion as the "living", "breathing" documents that our forefathers penned. Jeeze.

 

[Skald]

I can honestly see why they want to do this. When I was at the range Saturday an older woman was at the range for the first time with her husband. I was waiting a bit for the barrel to cool and like everyone else, was looking to see what others were shooting.

The woman then asked what I was shooting and told her I was shooting my ARs. We were talking and she was approaching shooting with an open mind and wanted to learn. I told her about the ones I had, how though each looked the same pretty much both were in a way different (16" Middy and 10.5" SBR). When she asked about the 'assault rifles' I informed her that AR didn't mean what many think it does, it only refers to Armalite Rifle, the original maker of the AR15.

 

[MFP4073]

I prefer boom stick.

I'm with Hanwei!

 

[lupis42]

This is trying to make it into a "sporting rifle" which is playing right into the anti's nonsense that guns without a sporting purpose need to be banned....
We need to stand up and say without apologies or watering down that this is our right, period.

bingo.

Not one step further. not one. and, let's fight to get those machine guns back... those are what the founding fathers wanted to protect, not "sporting rifles".

This. Most emphatically this.

I prefer boom stick.

There are many like it, but this boomstick is mine!