The AR-15 is at the heart of America’s national gun debate—a beacon of freedom for some, and a source of sorrow for others. Its history, from a workshop in Los Angeles to millions of American homes, is one of innovation, unforeseen impacts, and cultural change.
In the 1950s, World War II Marine and avowed “tinkerer” Eugene Stoner set out to modernize firearms for the new century. In a small garage, Stoner experimented with aluminum and plastic instead of the wood and steel used in most weapons.
This was a radical approach that yielded a lighter, more portable rifle that was extremely efficient—what would come to be called the AR-15. Without the formal constraints, Stoner created with inventive liberty, brainstorming ideas on napkins and tables, driven by the feeling of responsibility to provide Americans with a reliable defense device.
The AR-15 gained even more ground when the design was licensed to Colt by Stoner’s firm, Armalite, in 1959. Four years later, the military formally had a version that had been modified, the M16, as the standard weapon for the Vietnamese soldiers. Its initial use was plagued by problems such as jamming due to ammunition issues, at the expense of soldiers’ lives during combat. However, its light weight and simplicity won over soldiers, and soon the rifle’s reputation improved.
After the Vietnam War, Colt began producing a civilian and law enforcement semi-automatic version under the resurrected AR-15 name. Semi-automatics are distinct from full-automatics, which will keep firing with a trigger that is held continuously, in that the AR-15 will discharge one shot per pull and automatically load the next. That distinction matters: semi-automatic rifles are for sale in bulk and are regulated differently than their fully automatic counterparts.
Popularity with civilians increased when Colt’s patents ended in the 1970s and enabled thousands of companies to produce their models. Its modular design gave it the “the LEGO of guns” moniker since it was favored by shooters who enjoy customizing and tinkering with the gun. The lightweight construction, adjustable stock, and manageable recoil made the rifle easy to use, while its military appearance added to its popularity. Veterans appreciated familiarity, while younger buyers were drawn by video games and expanded gun culture.
Cultural and political trends also helped the AR-15 rise to prominence. The expiration of the federal ban on assault weapons in 2004, combined with post-9/11 patriotism and the mainstream media, cemented its position as “America’s Rifle.” Currently, there are around 20 million AR-15-style rifles out of an estimated 434 million firearms in America.
But the prevalence of the AR-15 is a cost. It has been used in some of the deadliest mass shootings in recent history, among them Sandy Hook, Las Vegas, Parkland, Uvalde, and Buffalo. Its high-velocity rounds blast through walls and furniture, causing instant and devastating injuries. Survivors and rescuers describe disorienting, traumatic spaces where lives were forever altered in a matter of seconds. In these situations, the firepower of the rifle has been called into question in public discourse on gun safety.
Rifles are involved in a smaller percentage of total firearm deaths in the United States. Handguns are involved in most homicides, and suicides account for over half of firearm deaths. However, the AR-15’s involvement in mass shootings has spurred renewed calls for stricter regulation, including background checks, magazine limits, and red flag laws. Public opinion polls indicate resounding support for taking action, which would guarantee concern that such weapons are not left to get into the wrong hands while respecting legitimate ownership.
The debate over the AR-15 remains extremely polarized. To its supporters, it is self-defense, personal liberty, and engineering brilliance. To its critics, it is a symbol of potential violence and social risk. As Cameron McWhirter and Zusha Elinson explain in American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15, the gun is “the fulcrum of America’s great gun divide,” both revered and feared.
Efforts to regulate access move increasingly to individuals rather than the gun, with limits aimed at preventing it from being abused without eroding rights for responsible owners. Eugene Stoner’s invention, a rifle intended to be a new, reliable one, has become both a tool of protection and a tool of destruction. Its legacy, woven into American life, politics, and culture, is as complex and divisive as the nation that embraced it.