assault rifles news stories on Newser

After 50 Years, a New Army Rifle

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 09:21:21 CST

For nearly 50 years, US Army troops have relied on M4 and M16 rifles, but that could soon change. While Army leaders have long been loyal to the "combat proven" rifles, questions and complaints have arisen about their design and reliability. So the Army this week advertised its interest in...

Bridegroom Firing AK-47 Kills Own Father

M. Morris — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:46:56 CDT

A Turkish man has been arrested after firing an AK-47 to celebrate his wedding and accidentally killing his father and two aunts. Celebratory gunshots are a tradition the Turkish government has tried and failed to stamp out, notes the BBC . The bridegroom lost control of the automatic assault rifle and...

'Jesus Rifles' Draw Fire

Nick McMaster — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:20:00 CST

A rifle scope commonly used by the US military is inscribed with references to the Bible. The scopes, made by Trijicon of Michigan, bear codes that refer to verses glorifying God and Jesus—even though the military, leery of being accused of waging a Crusade, bans proselytizing in Iraq and...

Gun-Toter's Pastor Prayed for Obama's Death

Kevin Spak — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:33:02 CDT

The man who brought an assault rifle to an Obama town hall in Arizona last week had attended a sermon the day before during which the pastor said he would “pray for Barack Obama to die and go to hell,” TPM reports. “I’d like Barack Obama to melt like a...

Dozen Gun-Toters Spotted at Obama Event

Kevin Spak — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:24:20 CDT

The man who brought an assault rifle to Barack Obama’s speech yesterday wasn’t alone. Roughly a dozen protesters were seen carrying guns, the AP reports. Phoenix police say the men didn’t need permits, and didn’t commit any crime. In fact, they say they were worried someone would try to harm...

Another Obama Speech, Another Armed Citizen

Nick McMaster — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:50:01 CDT

President Obama's appearance at a VFW convention in Phoenix today was marked by yet another appearance of a man with a gun, the Arizona Republic reports. As separate crowds of protesters for and against health care reform rallied outside the Phoenix convention center, a man with an AR-15 rifle and...

End Failed Drug War: Go After Kingpins

Harry Kimball — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:27:15 CDT

The "war on drugs" has been an abject failure—crowded jails and a still-thriving narcotics trade prove that—and it's time for some "visionary" thinking, writes Cynthia Tucker in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . The nation's not ready for legalization, but how about some concrete steps: Stop going after "penny-ante dealers and...

NRA Wins a Round on Gun Control

Kevin Spak — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:21:27 CDT

Attorney General Eric Holder has backed off calls to once again ban assault weapons after a strong blowback from the gun lobby, Newsweek reports. Mexico is pressuring the US to reinstate such a ban, since US assault rifles make up 90% of drug-cartel arsenals. But when Holder floated the idea...

US Gun Dealers Arm Mexican Drug Wars

Jason Farago — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:26:00 CST

More than 6,000 Mexicans died in drug wars last year, and violence has surged recently as gangs battle the police and each other. But because of Mexico's strict gun laws, cartels have to get their weaponry from elsewhere: the United States. Ninety percent of guns recovered in Mexico originated...