The Case For Guns: Education - Separating Fact from Fiction

From the Bench: Why knowledge matters more than emotion in the firearms debate By Kevin Cline, Blue Coat Arms Company

Updated July 1, 2025

Every mass shooting triggers the same predictable cycle: half the commentators know nothing about firearms or existing laws, a quarter can't articulate coherent information (making everything more confusing), and the remaining quarter simply give up on productive dialogue.

The result? Policy debates driven by emotion rather than facts.

As a gunsmith who works with firearms daily, I see the consequences of this ignorance firsthand. Customers come in confused by media reports, politicians propose laws that already exist, and meaningful solutions get buried under misinformation.

Let's cut through the noise with actual facts.

The AR-15 Reality Check

What "AR" Actually Means

AR stands for ArmaLite Rifle, not "Assault Rifle." ArmaLite, founded in the mid-1950s in Hollywood, California, developed the original platform. Eugene Stoner designed the AR-15 as a semi-automatic rifle chambered in .223 or 5.56mm.

Semi-automatic means: One shot per trigger pull. Period.

The Military vs. Civilian Distinction

Here's where many people get confused: Eugene Stoner designed both the M-16 (military) and AR-15 (civilian), but they're fundamentally different weapons:

• Different twist rates for barrel rifling

• Different sears (the component that determines firing mode)

• Different construction throughout

The AR-15 is essentially a .22 caliber rifle with modern ergonomics. It's no more powerful than many traditional hunting rifles.

What Actually Qualifies as an "Assault Rifle"

Pro-gun advocates often claim "assault rifles don't exist." That's incorrect. According to US Army intelligence document FSTC-CW-07/03/70:

"Assault rifles are short, compact, selective-fire weapons that fire a cartridge intermediate in power between sub-machine gun and rifle cartridges... capable of delivering effective full automatic fire at ranges up to 300 meters."

Key requirement: Selective fire (semi and full-auto capability).

Since AR-15s are semi-automatic only, they cannot be assault rifles by the military's own definition.

Important context: True assault rifles have been heavily regulated since the National Firearms Act of 1934, and civilian manufacturing was banned in 1986. They're extremely rare and expensive – rarely used in crimes.

The "Weapon of War" Fallacy

Calling semi-automatics "weapons of war" is emotional manipulation targeting people unfamiliar with firearms history.

Reality check: Virtually every firearm designed since WWI uses semi-automatic operation. This includes:

• Most hunting rifles

• Target shooting rifles

• Self-defense handguns

• Sporting rifles

By this logic, nearly every modern firearm is a "weapon of war."

Historical perspective: All tools can become weapons of war. Before semi-automatics, armies used muskets. Before muskets, swords. Before swords, clubs. The designation doesn't determine the tool's civilian utility.

The Statistics They Don't Want You to See

FBI Crime Data Reality

According to FBI statistics, rifles of all types (including AR-15s) account for only 3% of violent crimes. Meanwhile:

• Hands and feet: 6% of violent crimes

• Knives: Five times more than rifles

Medical comparison: Johns Hopkins found that medical malpractice causes approximately 440,000 American deaths annually. Gun-related deaths total around 40,000 yearly (with 60-70% being suicides).

Why no national debate on "common-sense doctor control"? Because the perceived benefits outweigh the risks.

The CDC Research Myth

Claim: The NRA prevents CDC gun violence research.

Reality: The Dickey Amendment (1996) only prohibits using CDC funds to "advocate or promote gun control." Research is explicitly allowed and continues.

What research actually shows:

• 60-70% of gun deaths are suicides

• Defensive gun use occurs 500,000-3,000,000 times annually

• Legal defensive use equals or exceeds reported violent crimes

Mass Shooting Context

Virginia Tech remains one of the deadliest school shootings in US history – committed entirely with handguns, not rifles.

Historical perspective: The worst mass shooting in American history was committed by our own government at Wounded Knee (December 29, 1890), where 300+ disarmed Native Americans were killed by federal forces.

The "Why Do You Need That?" Question

Why is firearm ownership the only constitutional right attacked with this question?

• Why do you need free speech?

• Why do you need due process?

• Why do you need protection from unreasonable search?

Real-world examples:

• Korean business owners during the 1992 LA riots

• Students at Tiananmen Square who couldn't defend themselves

• Any citizen facing criminal attack when police are minutes away

The question reveals the questioner's bias, not a legitimate policy concern.

Background Checks: What Actually Exists

Current System

We already have comprehensive background checks through the FBI's NICS program, which searches multiple databases:

• Criminal records

• Mental health adjudications

• Domestic violence convictions

• Immigration status

Process time: Minutes to hours, depending on system load.

"Universal" Background Checks"

The process is identical – the only difference is requiring background checks for private sales.

The enforcement problem: The FBI, DOJ, and Supreme Court have all stated that universal background checks cannot be enforced without a national gun registry.

Historical warning: Every government that established gun registries eventually implemented confiscation programs with prison time for non-compliance.

International "Success" Stories

• Australia: Still experiences mass shootings

• Venezuela: Complete societal breakdown

• New Zealand: Only 700 of an estimated 1.5 million affected firearms turned in after their ban

State Rights vs. Constitutional Rights

States have legitimate authority within their borders, but state rights don't override constitutional rights.

The inconsistency: You can drive in any state with your driver's license (a privilege), but many states won't recognize your concealed carry permit (a constitutional right).

Constitutional principle: Article VI establishes federal constitutional supremacy over conflicting state laws.

Terminology Matters: Clips vs. Magazines

Magazine: The component that holds cartridges

Clip: A device used to load cartridges into a magazine

Using incorrect terminology immediately signals unfamiliarity with firearms to anyone knowledgeable about the subject.

The "Musket" Argument

This argument is intellectually dishonest and historically ignorant.

By this logic:

• First Amendment doesn't protect internet speech

• Fourth Amendment doesn't protect digital privacy

• No constitutional right applies to modern technology

Historical reality: The Founders knew about advanced firearms technology and some advocated for it:

• Girandoni Air Rifle (Lewis & Clark expedition)

• Kalthoff Repeating Rifle

• Belton Flintlock

• Puckle Gun

The "Government Would Win Anyway" Response

The world's most powerful military has struggled against:

• Vietnamese civilians (1950s-70s)

• Iraqi insurgents (2000s)

• Afghan fighters (2000s-2020s)

Individual example: Simo Häyhä, "The White Death," killed over 500 Soviet soldiers in one year with a bolt-action rifle during the Winter War.

It's not the weapon – it's the person using it.

"Common Sense" Gun Control

Most "common sense" proposals are already law:

• Background checks ✓

• Firearm tracing systems ✓

• Murder being illegal ✓

• Prohibited persons restrictions ✓

The "Gun Show Loophole" Myth

Reality: No such loophole exists. All sales at gun shows must comply with federal, state, and local laws. FFL dealers must conduct background checks regardless of location.

Private sales: Legal in some states whether at gun shows, homes, or anywhere else. The location doesn't change the law.

The Endless Cycle

"Common sense" gun control never stops. There are approximately 20,000 existing laws (federal, state, and local) regulating every aspect of firearms from manufacture to end use.

The question: Where does "common sense" stop and constitutional violation begin?

The Education Imperative

The biggest obstacle to productive firearms policy discussion isn't disagreement – it's ignorance. When half the participants don't understand basic terminology, existing laws, or constitutional principles, meaningful dialogue becomes impossible.

What we need:

• Factual education over emotional manipulation

• Constitutional literacy in policy discussions

• Patience in correcting misinformation

• Good faith debate based on actual data

Moving Forward

Every American has a stake in getting this right. Whether you own firearms or not, constitutional rights affect everyone. When we allow emotion to override facts, we all lose.

The solution isn't more laws restricting constitutional rights – it's better education, enforcement of existing laws, and addressing the root causes of violence rather than the tools used.

No matter your era, we got your six – and that includes defending your right to make informed decisions based on facts rather than fear.

Questions about firearms laws, terminology, or constitutional rights? Contact Blue Coat Arms Company at 217-416-5962 or BlueCoatArms@gmail.com. Education is the foundation of freedom.