AR-15: Explaining the ad

In response to Ms. Verburg’s letter to the editor Wednesday, the AR-15 Modern Sporting Rifle (MSR), not “assault weapon,” is by far the most popular semiautomatic rifle made and sold in America today. In order to legally build one, you need to start with a serialized lower receiver. You get one of these by going to a licensed firearms dealer and filling out the same ATF Form 4473 as if you were buying a complete rifle, shotgun or handgun.

Once you have done that, you are off to create your own rifle with parts from more manufacturers than you could begin to imagine, all perfectly legal. If you are building this firearm for your own personal use, a serialized lower receiver is not required by law. You now have a one of a kind rifle that is functionally identical to an AR-15 that you bought at any of the local gun stores. Some folks like the DIY approach to their own firearms.

DWIGHT VAN HORN

Hayden