The AR-15 rifle has emerged as a potent symbol in America’s ongoing struggle with gun violence, representing both a weapon of mass casualties and a commercial success story for the firearms industry. Recent reports indicate that AR-15 sales have surged during periods of political strife and tragedy, such as after the Sandy Hook and Parkland shootings, with the weapon now constituting nearly 25% of all firearms produced in the United States.
Despite handguns accounting for the majority of gun-related homicides, AR-15s are linked to 10 of the 18 deadliest mass shootings since 2012. This paradox raises critical questions about how market demand plays into a culture that seems to expand in the face of tragedy, highlighting troubling dynamics around disaster capitalism where gun manufacturers thrive amidst escalating violence.
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