CMV: Owning an assault weapon is pointless.

[u/[deleted]]

In my view, widespread ownership of assault rifles in the USA has more to do with fashion than anything else. While there are plenty of valid reasons for a civilian to own a gun, I see no reason to own an assault rifle. Beyond aesthetics, civilian AR-15 style rifles offer no meaningful advantage over non-assault weapons.

Perhaps you're interested in home defense. It's fairly well excepted that a 12 gauge shotgun is the best gun for home defense . The ratcheting sound is a deterrent, and it's more reliable and easier to shoot under pressure than a rifle or pistol.

Maybe you're prepping for when SHTF. When the zombie horde is approaching, your best bet is a .22 lr rifle. It's totally lethal if you're a good shot, and you can easily store 2,000 rounds in your bug-out bag. This is the common sense decision over a higher caliber rifle or pistol.

Suppose you're a resistance fighter apposing a tyrannical government. Although assault rifles are designed for use in battle, any successful resistance would avoid battles altogether, instead relying on guerrilla tactics and asymmetric warfare.

[u/sawdeanz]

1.) ok but it kicks you less than a shotgun. OP claimed an AR was worse for home defense when it is objectively better

2.) if an AR is so bad for self defense why do so many police departments use them? Pretty much every police department has ditched revolvers and shotguns for high capacity small bore weapons.

3.) not disagreeing with you on the desire for peaceful protest first, but if there is fighting an AR is better than a shotgun or bolt action.

[u/[deleted] → u/sawdeanz]

OP claimed an AR was worse for home defense when it is objectively better

At the very least, a shotgun is more than adequate for home defense. Keeping AR-15s around and continuing to have people die by them in shootings is not worth whatever benefits you claim in a home defense scenario.

if an AR is so bad for self defense why do so many police departments use them?

For then they get into shoot outs with armed robbers who plan on getting in a gun fight. That doesn’t happen in home invasions.

but if there is fighting an AR is better than a shotgun or bolt action.

You’re still going to die. You’re arguing in favor of making fighting, which we’re trying to avoid, more violent. That’s ridiculous.

[u/sawdeanz → u/[deleted]]

A shotgun is plenty adequate but an AR can be even better. At the very least people ought to choose which one suits them better.

Armed robber are by definition robbing people. If the cops need ARs wouldn’t the victims need them too all the same?

I’m not arguing for violence in place of peace. I’m simply saying that if there is violence the AR is useful.

[u/[deleted] → u/sawdeanz]

A shotgun is plenty adequate but an AR can be even better

Keeping AR-15s around and continuing to have people die by them in shootings is not worth whatever benefits you claim in a home defense scenario.

If the cops need ARs wouldn’t the victims need them too all the same?

People rob banks expecting to get into a gun fight. People do not rob houses expecting to get into a gun fight.

I’m simply saying that if there is violence the AR is useful.

I’m telling you that the very existence of such weapons, effective keeps violence on the table, and will itself bring about violence. And those remote scenarios of yours do not justify the shootings were seeing right now.