How the AR-15 Became ‘America’s Gun’

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KQED

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.2 • 727 Ratings

🗓️ 6 April 2023

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

About 16 million Americans – or about 1 in 20 U.S. adults – own at least one AR-15, making it the best-selling rifle in the United States. It’s also among the most lethal: ten of the 17 deadliest U.S. mass shootings in the last decade have involved AR-15s, according to “American Icon,” a new investigation by the Washington Post. We talk about why the AR-15, originally designed as a lightweight combat weapon, has risen to mass market dominance over the last two decades and why it’s remained free from congressional scrutiny. Guests: Mark Follman, national affairs editor, Mother Jones; author, "Trigger Points: Inside the Mission to Stop Mass Shootings in America" Peter Wallsten, senior national investigations editor, Washington Post Silvia Foster-Frau, multiculturalism reporter, Washington Post Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:32.2	From KQED.
0:37.2	The From KQED in San Francisco, this is Forum.
0:51.6	I'm Mina Kim.
0:53.3	Some 16 million Americans, or about one in 20 adults,
0:56.9	own at least one AR-15, making it the best-selling rifle in the U.S. Its design also makes it among
1:03.8	the most lethal when used to kill. Ten of the 17 deadliest mass shootings here in the last decade
1:09.9	have involved AR-15s, according
1:12.1	to the Washington Post.
1:13.8	We look at why the AR-15 originally meant for military combat has risen to mass market dominance
1:19.7	over the last two decades, while avoiding congressional scrutiny.
1:23.4	Do you own one?
1:24.6	Or are you a gun owner who chooses not to?
1:27.0	Tell us why. After this news.
	...

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