The most common type of weapon in American mass shootings is small arms, according to statistics from the National Institute of Justice. However, in view of the shootings that have attracted the most attention, often due to a high number of fatalities, semi-automatic carbines stand out.
More specifically, it is about weapons of the type AR-15, which were used in the school shootings in Uvalde and Sandy Hook. The term originally comes from the specific model Colt AR-15 but is today widely used for weapons in similar designs.
Compared to a handgun, the AR-15 is a different level of firepower. Studies conducted at Wayne State University in the United States show large differences between the injuries from small arms and AR-15.
– Shots from an AR-15 basically cause an explosion inside the body, says Professor Cynthia Bir CNN.
The House of Representatives wants to raise the limit
In the wake of the mass shootings, the US House of Representatives voted this week through a law package containing an increase in the age limit for semi-automatic weapons, including the AR-15.
The House of Representatives wants to raise the limit from 18 to 21 years, but for that to become a reality, the Senate must also approve the law. The probability of that is considered low, as it would require several Republican senators to go against the party line.
Prohibited for ten years
Proponents of stricter gun laws often question the legitimate need of law-abiding gun owners for such powerful weapons. From the other side it is heard that the weapon can be used in self-defense as well as in hunting or sport shooting.
At the same time, the political debate on AR-15 is not new. The type of weapon was severely criticized as early as the 1990s, which led to a national ban signed by then-President Bill Clinton in 1994. The ban was in place for ten years before the law expired. Since then, debaters have been debating its effectiveness in combating violence.
In Sweden, the use of the weapon seems to be relatively limited when it comes to violent crime. According to the police, only two solved shootings have been linked to the type of weapon since 1985.