Proposed Bill Would Designate AR-15 the National Gun of the U.S.
How do you feel about the AR-15 being a proposed national symbol of America?
The Bill
Bill Status
- Introduced to the House by Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL): Feb. 17, 2023
- Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability: Feb. 17, 2023
- The House has not received the full text of the bill
- Senate: Not yet passed
- President: Not yet signed
Bill Overview
The bill would designate the popular AR-15 rifle as the National Rifle of America.
What's in the bill?
A national symbol
- If the proposal passes the GOP-controlled House and Democratic-controlled Senate, the AR-15 will become a formal national symbol, along with the American flag.
Acknowledges the place of the AR-15 in American life
- The AR-15 is a semiautomatic rifle used by hunters, competitors, and "Americans seeking home-defense guns," according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
- A May 2022 report found 20 million AR-15 rifles are in circulation in the U.S.
- In total, Americans own around 393 million guns, which exceeds the national population of the U.S.
- Alabama, Moore's home state, is ranked eighth in the country regarding the percentage of residents who own a gun, at 55.5%.
Reinforces Moore's pro-Second Amendment position
- With an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association, Rep. Moore strongly advocates for gun rights. He was one of 204 Republicans who voted against gun-law reforms in June 2022.
Argument for
- At a conference at a local gun store in Troy, Alabama, Moore said:
"The anti-Second Amendment group won’t stop until they take away all your firearms. One rule to remember: any government that would take away one right would take away them all."
- On Twitter, he said:
"The Second Amendment is as American a right as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. Second Amendment rights are worth protecting and must not be infringed, and we must send a message that we will meet every attack on any of our constitutional rights."
Argument against
- The federal affairs director for the gun-control advocacy group Giffords, Adzi Vokhiwa, said:
"There have already been more mass shootings than days in the year in 2023 and in 2021 nearly 50,000 Americans lost their lives in gun violence...This is egregious and reckless. We condemn this legislation and far-right politicians who value gun industry profits more than Americans' lives."
How do you feel about the AR-15 being a proposed national symbol of America?
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Apparently there is no limit to stupidity!?
shame on congress
shame on judiciary
shame on corporate america
I can now understand why Benjamin Franklin wanted the Turkey as our National Bird. It would highly represent our Congressional folks.
Shouldn't the "national" gun of America be a smooth bore flintlock rifle? I mean, that's what the colonists used to defeat the British. The ones used by a WELL REGULATED militia. The very arms the founders were speaking about in the constitution. Just sayin'..........
Even if there weren't huge numbers of shooting deaths going on, do we need a national gun? Do we need a national everything? I'm in favor of the second amendment, but this is an obvious political ploy - and one in poor taste I might add.
I think it's a great idea. Legally owned guns are not issues. The left always want to attack laws when gun violence is in the news. Long guns are rarely used in gun violence. I like the idea. This will really tick them off.
Will be interesting to see if it actually gets to the House floor for a vote, and who votes for it. I'm sure it's the vary same people receiving campaign contributions from the NRA. Anyone not voting for it will be cut off the gravy train.
So we need a National Gun of the U.S.? First off, no we don't. Secondly, if we did...
Wouldn't the colt innovative revolver or Winchester repeating rifle be more appropriate given those gun inventions are what's considered the guns that won the west? They both have great historical value in our country, but given this appears to be some pr stunt by a gop, that likely won't matter. Because this is all about them, forget history, forget country, just cause division. Rinse and repeat.
The ar-15 is the favored gun of mass shootings and was first developed for the military use. Not nearly the historical valve of a colt or Winchester. What the AR-15 is known for is mass shootings, so of course a gop is all in. They continue to drink the how low can you go koolaid.
I'm torn. Not about how tone-deaf, offensive, and appalling this proposal is. But how depressingly appropriate it is, in all the wrong ways.
Really, what's wrong with the bald eagle?
Would the 89% who are against this proposal please post "Gun Free Zone" in front of their homes ...
I wholeheartedly support banning the AR15 and AK47. And anyone who uses these are murderers who must be held accountable
Once again this shows how incredibly broken our government is. Instead of looking at issues connected to global warming and income inequality, the right misdirects with bullshit legislation that further divides the country rather than solving problems and bringing us together.
Do you mean like Communist, Marxist, and other symbolic flags of revolution? Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity by some to make guns their solution to everything. Here's one, ever heard the expression'the pen is mightier than the sword'? Let's not allow this country to become an 'idiocracy' on top of everything else.
There has been too many mass shootings in US caused by ar15 & to use this gun as a symbol of some sought of America, is a slap in the face to victims & families of mass shootings.
Send more guns to Florida, they don't have enough guns and ammunition to be safe!
Vote no on HR 1095.
This is simply appalling!
This is highly unnecessary.
In Crimea Russia teaching children military training, bag math, language, history, science or future.
Maybe this see to be the future for the U.S.
No! Our symbol should be the bodies of the dead, specifically dead children. Evidently that's what republicans and the nra want!
Majority of true Americans want the AK-15 banned not glorified. This bill will encourage more mass shootings in public schools, malls, and entertainment areas.
NEVER!
This is a disgusting bill.
You live my the gun, you will die by the gun. We see this every day. The Republican Party will have you believe that there are not enough guns, at what point will it be safe?
This is a gun designed for war and destruction of the target. Having a national gun let alone an AR-15 is a ridiculous idea.
It's absolutely appalling to see that this is the kind of attention we're paying to guns instead of looking at the countless lives, children and otherwise, taken in school shootings every year.
This is honestly gross they don't have any other things to do than this 😕 guns only hurt and kill why would we want them to be a national symbol

This is one of the most insane ideas ever. Anyone who says they're "pro-life" must not care about the welfare of American citizens. We need more stringent guns laws, and banning the use of the AR-15's to the average American citizen is a life saving idea that is so needed. The AR-15's should be for military use. I'm so disgusted that nothing is being done on gun laws as we hear everyday of shootings.
This is absolutely the moat tone-deaf thing I have ever heard!!!