To the editor: Jackie Calmes discusses AR-15-style weapons. She appears not to know enough about these weapons to make a convincing argument that their ownership, possession and sale by civilians should be illegal.
These guns utilize ammunition consisting of a long, relatively large diameter shell that is designed to hold a large amount of explosive powder, but that has a very narrow neck to hold a long, narrow slug. This slug is therefore blasted out at a very high muzzle velocity of 3,300 feet per second.
The AR-15 is designed to cause a very damaging shock wave that creates an extraordinarily large amount of tissue damage. Because of the projectile’s extraordinarily high velocity and relatively heavy weight, it severely injures or kills virtually any person in its path. It can also easily penetrate walls, furniture and even humans and still injure or kill someone behind.
These characteristics make the AR-15 far too dangerous and destructive for home or business defense. Because of the extraordinary tissue damage created, an AR-15 is wholly unsuitable for hunting. It is a weapon of war suitable only for warfare at least a mile away from any civilians.
David Rudich, Phoenix