US Rifle vs Terrorist's Rifle... The Two-Faced Gun That Tried to Kill Trump

AR-15 Used in Attempted Assassination of Trump
Costing Tens to Hundreds of Thousands of Won in the US
Extreme Comparison: US Rifle vs Terrorist's Rifle
"Suspect's Father Likely Purchased It"

The annual meeting and exhibition of the National Rifle Association (NRA) held in Texas, USA, last May [Photo by NRA]

The suspect who fired a gun at former President Donald Trump is reported to have used an AR-15 style rifle in the attack, which is expected to intensify the controversy surrounding the legality of this firearm.

On the 14th (local time), AP News and The Washington Post (WP) reported that U.S. investigators recovered an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle at the assassination attempt scene. AP cited investigators handling the case, stating, "This weapon appears to have been purchased by the shooter’s father at least six months ago."

The AR-15 rifle is one of the most common firearms in the United States. The AR-15 is the civilian version of the M-16 rifle, familiar to Korean military veterans. The weapon was developed by the firearms manufacturer Armalite, with 'AR' standing for 'Armalite.' The civilian AR-15 rifle is known for being easier to carry than combat rifles and having low recoil, making it highly popular in the U.S. In particular, AR-15 style rifles can be 'customized' with various accessories such as scopes, allowing even untrained individuals to deliver deadly shots.

In 2019, New Zealand police presented the AR-15 style weapon used by the perpetrator in the mosque shooting incident to the parliament.
[Photo by AP·Yonhap News]

According to Wikipedia, the National Shooting Sports Foundation estimated in 2016 that there were approximately 5 to 10 million AR-15 style rifles among the 300 million firearms owned by Americans. The price range is known to vary widely, typically from around 500,000 KRW to 45 million KRW.

This rifle has a dual nature. On one hand, it is praised as "America’s rifle," while on the other, it is criticized as "the weapon favored by mass shooters."

In fact, this weapon frequently appears as the weapon of choice in U.S. gun incidents. Notable cases include the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut (28 deaths), the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas (21 deaths), and last year’s shooting in Lewiston, Maine (18 deaths).

It was also used in some of the worst anti-Semitic hate crimes in U.S. history, such as the 2018 shooting at the Pittsburgh synagogue (11 deaths), the July 4, 2022, parade shooting near Chicago, Illinois (7 deaths), and the indiscriminate shooting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the eve of Independence Day last year (5 deaths).

Earlier, The Washington Post reported that out of 17 major mass shootings in the U.S. between 2012 and 2022, 10 involved AR-15 style rifles. Consequently, nine U.S. states?Washington (West), California, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Illinois, and Delaware?have banned the sale and possession of AR-15 style rifles and other semi-automatic weapons.

On the 14th (local time), supporters of former President Donald Trump are marching and protesting while holding the American flag in Huntington Beach, California, USA. [Image source=Yonhap News]

However, legislation on gun control has been slow due to strong lobbying by interest groups. Notably, the National Rifle Association supported former President Trump in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. Nevertheless, with Trump, who has historically been pro-gun ownership, being shot, the necessity of gun control and the Republican Party’s stance on the issue are expected to become another point of contention in the upcoming election season.

Meanwhile, on the 13th, former President Trump was injured by a gunshot that penetrated the upper part of his right ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump bled from his ear and was evacuated urgently. After being confirmed safe at the hospital, he received emergency treatment and was discharged. The FBI stated that the investigation is focusing on the lone suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks (20, deceased). The investigation team also confirmed that the rifle used by the deceased suspect was an AR-15 style rifle legally purchased and was found next to the suspect’s body at the crime scene.

The FBI explained, "The weapon used by the suspect in the crime was an AR-15 style rifle legally purchased by his father more than six months ago," adding, "We consider this an assassination attempt but are also keeping open the possibility of domestic or international terrorism."