When it comes to America’s vast gun culture, no weapon has become as ubiquitous – or controversial – as the AR-15, a gun that is both lauded as “America’s Rifle” and vilified as the weapon of choice for mass shooters.
The gun, early versions of which became available in the 1950s, is one of the most popular among American gun owners, with tens of millions currently in circulation. By some estimates, one in 20 Americans owns one. The popularity of the gun even prompted some conservative lawmakers to try to officially designate the AR-15 “the National Gun of the United States”.
