1ºMatthew Coleman I don’t think you understand what military grade means, the A.R. 15 can be built to specifications higher than or lesser than military grade, however, an extremely large minority are capable of firing in a select fire mode, full auto or three round burst. The NRA has voice their support for the 1986 machine gun band, and trumps bump stock ban.
A large majority of NRA funding comes from its individual members and not from gun companies. Due to poor business practices, and failing to live up to his mission statement the NRA is losing numbers to other pro to a organizations such as GOA and the firearm policy coalition, the NRA is also not the political funding juggernaut that it is made out to be in the media.
Though there is an increase in politically motivated violence, that violence is not limited to any one in particular belief system.
The ar15 is also not used in the majority of mass shootings, and is used in less than 3% of gun crime, despite being one of the most purchased rifle in American history.
2ºMatthew Coleman there is no burden of proof that is on the American people that you suggest, all the people need to do to prove that is an bearable arm in the context of the second amendment. A very easy way to do this is the in common use test, if an arm is in common legal use than the American people have the right to own such arm, 20 million Americans the AR15 for home defense, it is much better suited for home defense than a pistol or shotgun, it is more accurate, easier to shoot accurately, is more reliable than any shotgun, can be mounted with optics and lights to aid in situational awareness, and a sling for weapons retention. 5.56 will over penetrate less than any defensive handgun loading, and many shotgun loadings.
The AR15 is also used by many hunters as it is modular in terms of optics and calibers it can fire, it is accurate and it’s cost to performance ratio is nearly unmatched.
3ºMichael Stoner
You can make all the arguments you want concerning the specifics on what defines a military-grade weapon and what doesn't, but the bottom line is this: Not one single NRA member can validate the use of an automatic or semi-automatic rifle for the strict purpose of hunting wild game or self-defense. Such weapons are developed and manufactured for use in military combat and/or law enforcement, and they were never intended to be manufactured for use by private citizens under any circumstances until the NRA began to advocate for their use by private citizens after the prohibition of unauthorized possession and sales of automatic firearms by private citizens was signed into law in 1973.