DEAR EDITOR:

In response to the Dec. 25 letter writer on AR-15s, I am one of those who does not believe that rifles such as the AR-15 should be banned in our nation.

First, to answer your question, nobody wants to be shot by anything! Surgeons report the most deadly caliber to be shot by is a .22 long rifle. It will enter in one spot and bounce around inside the body, making it very difficult for a surgeon to locate.

As to your claims about your friends who are hunters, I find this to be quite the stretch that they would think the AR-15 chambered in .223/5.56 would be so deadly. Surely, if they are true hunters, they would have rifles that are far more deadly.

The claim this round destroys the meat of deer is false. In fact, it is illegal in Ohio to hunt deer with any rifle chambered in this caliber because it is inefficient for hunting mid-sized to large game. Our soldiers have also complained to their commanding officers the round isn’t great for combat either, which is why the military is actively transitioning to a larger caliber, 6.8mm.

The AR-15 is the most common rifle in America and one that is used for sporting, self-defense and even hunting smaller game (or if chambered in a larger caliber it can be used for hunting larger game). Had you spent just a few moments on Google you could have learned a lot about this great rifle platform.

I hope you take the time to educate yourself more thoroughly about these rifles in the future. If you’d like, I’d be glad to show you them in person at my store and compare them to real hunting rifles.

I truthfully believe you’ll be surprised that these are not the evil machines the media have made you believe they are.

DAN SKINNER

Owner, Eagle Creek Tactical

Newton Falls