Letter from William Post

More on the AR-15 Rifle

Maybe some facts should be included in any discussion of “sane and sensible” gun laws [https://www.allotsego.com/northrup-gun-laws-should-be-sane-sensible/]. The fact is, the AR-15 was developed for the civilian market. It is not now and never has been a military weapon.

The AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle. This simply means that the trigger must be pulled each time a bullet is fired, just like many common hunting rifles. In order to fire 800 rounds a minute, the trigger would need to be pulled 800 times in a minute. The standard magazine for this rifle holds 30 rounds. That means you would also need to change the magazine 26 times in that same minute, and since New York only allows a 10-round magazine, you’re talking 80 magazine changes.

The AR-15 most commonly fires a 5.56 NATO round, which delivers less energy at impact than virtually any round commonly used by deer hunters. The round was developed not for its stopping power, but to wound enemy soldiers. Wounded soldiers require care and use resources.

There are a lot of things we can and should do to reduce gun violence, but making up facts serves no one.

William Post
New Berlin