This week the ATF took center stage on Face the Nation to show a series of military grade firearms that are out there on the street. It was painful, an incompetent cocktail of misinformation and downright lies that is helping to fuel the gun control movement. So in the interests of balance, we thought it was time to highlight the differences between military and civilian firearms, and debunk a couple of myths along the way.
By the way, when the head of the ATF failed to field strip a Glock and admitted he is ‘not a gun guy’, our faith in the ATF fell to an all-time low. And with Joe Biden constantly targeting ‘assault weapons; without being able to define what they are, we have to speak up.
ATF Director Steven Dettelbach and Chris Bort, a firearms expert at ATF, showed @margbrennan a few examples of the dangerous weapons law enforcement agencies are seeing on the streets: pic.twitter.com/QnoNOmpsPR
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) March 3, 2024
The Heart of the Matter: Understanding the Basics
Before diving into the nuances, it’s crucial to grasp the foundational differences between military and civilian firearms. At their core, military firearms are designed for the rigors of combat. They prioritize reliability, durability, and functionality in extreme conditions. Civilian firearms, while often inspired by their military counterparts, are tailored to a spectrum of uses from self-defense to sport shooting and hunting.
Design and Functionality: Where the Lines Blur and Diverge
The semi-automatic mechanism, a feature present in both military and civilian firearms, is frequently misunderstood. While the action, firing one round per trigger pull, is common to both, military firearms often incorporate select-fire capabilities. That allows for full automatic fire, and sometimes 3 shot bursts for a compromise of precision and firepower. Now civilians can get these in a lot of States, but the heavy regulation, paperwork and additional checks mean that most just don’t bother.
The visual similarities between military-style rifles and their civilian analogs contribute to public confusion. However, appearances can be deceiving. Civilian models, though they may look the part, are engineered with different intentions and are subject to more stringent regulations.
Of course there are some guns in military use that are pretty much the same as you get at home. Barrett 50 Cal rifles, semi auto and pump action shotguns and simple handguns like the Glock 19 and Sig Sauer P226 are the same as the civilian versions, which is where some of the confusion might come from.
The AR-15: A Case Study in Misunderstanding
The AR-15, often vilified as a “weapon of war,” serves as a prime example of the disconnect in public perception. Originally designed for military use, the civilian version of the AR-15 lacks the automatic fire capability of its military brethren, functioning instead as a semi-automatic rifle.
Despite its controversial status, the best AR-15 rifle”s modularity and adaptability have cemented its place as one of the most popular rifles among American gun owners, demonstrating the wide gap between its civilian utility and misunderstood military image.
We have got the point now where a black rifle with a detachable box magazine and a collapsible stock has become a weapon of war in the public’s eyes. While a Ruger Mini-14 with a wooden stock has all the same capabilities and yet seems to slide right under the anti-gun radar.
 |  | |
| AR-15 | Ruger Mini | |
| Caliber | 5.56 NATO/223 Rem | 5.56 NATO/223 Rem |
| Capacity | 20-30 rounds | 30 Rounds |
The Influence of Hollywood and Media
The entertainment industry and sensational media coverage have played significant roles in shaping public perceptions, often dramatizing the capabilities of firearms and blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Never ending magazines is one of those that grinds my gears…
Addressing this challenge calls for a more informed and nuanced approach to firearms reporting, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between military and civilian uses and capabilities. Unfortunately a large portion of the media seems to have taken an anti gun stance and delights in stories of massacres, while simply not reporting the vast number of times that defensive gun use has saved lives.
Even when it’s impossible to leave out of a story, the media seems intent on diminishing the role of the concealed carry gun owner that saved the day. When you’re more interested in launching into yet another gun control diatribe, that happens…
Don’t even get us started on the statistics that include suicide as gun violence and gang disputes as a mass shooting, or the disproportionate reporting about race when a straight white male loses it with a gun in his hand…
Legal Landscapes and Regulatory Realms
The National Firearms Act (NFA) and the Gun Control Act (GCA) form the backbone of federal firearms regulations, differentiating between military-grade weapons and those available to civilians. These legal documents underscore the legal distinctions that the general public doesn’t seem to grasp and the mainstream media doesn’t seem interested in addressing.
Beyond federal laws, state regulations introduce another layer of complexity to the ownership and operation of firearms, further delineating the boundaries between military and civilian arms.
If anything, the ATF has clouded the issue lately, some would say deliberately so. Unilateral attempts to write new laws within the frameork, especially regarding pistol braces and bump stocks, has slammed into a cold hard wall of resistance from the pro-gun lobby and
The Supreme Court. But that was a test of the defenses, and the ATF and our beloved President just keep coming. They are looking for ways to restrict guns any way they can, from revoking FFL licenses en masse to expanding gun free zones to the point you can’t really carry.
Towards a Common Ground: Education and Understanding
As aficionados of the firearm world, gun enthusiasts have a unique opportunity and responsibility to educate and inform, bridging gaps in understanding and fostering a more knowledgeable community. That does feel a little like rolling a boulder uphill considering the strength of emotion that the Left seems to possess, but it’s something that just has to happen.
Through education and engagement, the mystique surrounding military vs. civilian firearms can be dispelled, encouraging a more fact-based and less fear-driven conversation about gun rights and regulations.
Basically, we need more people on side if you want to keep your gun rights. Say it isn’t fair all you like, but we’re just old men shouting at clouds at that point.
Conclusion: Beyond the Barrel
As we holster our thoughts on the distinctions between military and civilian firearms, it’s clear that the journey towards clarity is paved with facts, understanding, and responsible discourse. For enthusiasts and critics alike, the path forward requires a departure from misconceptions, an embrace of education, and a commitment to a more informed and respectful dialogue about the place of firearms in society.
It’s going to be an ongoing fight for a while, especially with clueless ATF directors and Joe Biden at the helm. But we have to do our best. Because without civilized conversation, the hysterical and outspoken gun control lobby will keep taking another inch until they have the whole damned mile…
