Arrow-right Camera

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

AR-15s distinctions noted

I am writing this response to Frank Taylor’s Jan. 30 letter, “AR-15’s are not assault rifles.” His information is essentially correct except for two very important distinctions.

The first is his attempt to compare the Colt AR-15 bullet to that of “the common .22.” Depending upon which configuration the shooter chooses, the muzzle velocity of an AR-15’s .222 Remington Special round is almost three times that of the .22 Long Rifle round and carries roughly 14 times the energy as the .22 Long Rifle. The .22 is effective to about 150 yards. The .222 Remington Special’s effective firing range averages 547 yards.

These differences are huge. The two rifles do not compare.

The second distinction is Taylor’s statement that the AR-15 is not an assault rifle. Technically that is true, but it is the civilian version of our military’s M-16 assault rifle. The AR-15’s semiautomatic firing rate is determined by how fast the shooter can twitch his trigger finger. With some practice, a shooter can fire enough rounds to empty a classroom of all life within a minute. The AR-15 is a very lethal weapon and offers little buffer between an extreme emotional state and multiple targets.

Douglas Toland

Sagle, Idaho



Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-3815

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy