The AR-15 rifle has emerged as a potent symbol in America’s ongoing struggle with gun violence, representing both a weapon of mass casualties and a commercial success story for the firearms industry. Recent reports indicate that AR-15 sales have surged during periods of political strife and tragedy, such as after the Sandy Hook and Parkland shootings, with the weapon now constituting nearly 25% of all firearms produced in the United States.
Despite handguns accounting for the majority of gun-related homicides, AR-15s are linked to 10 of the 18 deadliest mass shootings since 2012. This paradox raises critical questions about how market demand plays into a culture that seems to expand in the face of tragedy, highlighting troubling dynamics around disaster capitalism where gun manufacturers thrive amidst escalating violence.
Read full story at www.esquire.com
Read the full article here