An attack occurred at a campaign rally involving former US President Donald Trump. A bullet grazed his right ear. Secret Service agents reported about eight rounds were fired. The assailant was neutralized. A New York Times photographer captured a photograph where a bullet can be seen passing close to Trump.
According to the Secret Service, the attack was carried out with an AR-15 Style Rifle. It's a semi-automatic rifle. The gunman was positioned about 400 meters away from Trump's stage, atop a warehouse roof. It's reported that the shooter was a young individual from Pennsylvania, apprehended and neutralized on the spot by the Secret Service.
Let's explore the prowess of the AR-15 Style Rifle...
This rifle emulates the design of the Colt AR-15, and is used by some military forces around the world. It bears similarities to the American military rifle M16, where 'AR' stands for 'ArmaLite'. It's exceedingly popular among American civilians. Although semi-automatic, it's often used like it's fully automatic. The earliest version of this rifle was created in 1956 and has been in production ever since.
Nowadays, most American arms manufacturers produce variants of the AR-15. There are dozens present in the US, available in various price ranges. Its barrel measures under 16 inches and traditionally doesn't come with a shoulder support, although some companies offer them for long-range shooting.
Furthermore, the AR-15 can be customized to accommodate both left and right-handed users. It can chamber rounds like .223 Remington or 5.56x45mm NATO. With its various versions, now one can use a wide range of calibers, including .22 LR, 7.62x39mm, 9x19mm Parabellum, 6.5mm, and certain shotgun calibers. Put simply, you can fire the type of ammo that suits your needs.
However, not every US state allows the possession of this weapon. It's prohibited in New York City. Colt introduced the civilian version of this gun in 1963. It's capable of firing in three different modes, including semi-automatic, allowing the shooter to keep firing without manual reloading each time.
This rifle has made its mark as a frequent tool in many violent incidents, including mass shootings. According to Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the AR-15 was used in 14 out of 93 mass shootings. It's considered one of the deadliest weapons in contemporary American history.
The AR-15 has been used in atrocities like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, the Las Vegas shooting in 2017, the Sutherland Springs church shooting in 2017, the Parkland High School shooting in 2018, and the Robb Elementary School shooting in 2022. This weapon is also utilized in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
