DHS calls AR15 a "sport rifle suitable for self-defense

[VMI77]

http://radioviceonline.com/department-o ... l-defense/

In paragraph 3.1 under requirements and testing standards we read…

DHS and its components have a requirement for a 5.56x45mm NATO, select-fire firearm suitable for personal defense use in close quarters and/or when maximum concealment is required.

[MeMelYup]

AR-15 with select fire?

[VMI77]

AR-15 with select fire?

Just quoting the title of the article...which does take a little liberty with the nomenclature. But note that the DHS doesn't call this selective-fire 5.56 mm AR platform weapon an "assault rifle."

[Andrew]

Here's a thread with the contract if you want specifics, http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=61644" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[3dfxMM]

Why does DHS need full auto but our Soldiers in harm's way don't. Well, most of them anyway.

[ghostrider]

so the white house is saying semi-auto 223 rifles are not suitable for personal defence (or anything else) but DHS is saying the full-auto ones are?

:-)

[grumble]

so the white house is saying semi-auto 223 rifles are not suitable for personal defence (or anything else) but DHS is saying the full-auto ones are?

:-)

You don't seem to understand -the semi-automatic AR's are evil "Assault Weapons" - but the DHS RFP says that the Select Fire 5.56 are "Personal Defense Firearms." There's a big difference there you know.

[longhorn_92]

so the white house is saying semi-auto 223 rifles are not suitable for personal defence (or anything else) but DHS is saying the full-auto ones are?

:-)

You don't seem to understand -the semi-automatic AR's are evil "Assault Weapons" - but the DHS RFP says that the Select Fire 5.56 are "Personal Defense Firearms." There's a big difference there you know.

An AR-15 in the hands of a citizen is an “assault rifle”... But an AR-15 in the hands of a DHS agent is a “Personal Defense Weapon.”

A full-auto-capable rifle in the hands of a citizen is called a “machine gun”... A full-auto-capable rifle in the hands of a DHS agent is called a “select-fire rifle.”

According to the media, all government agents with AR15's are presumed innocent and assumed to be stopping crime... But all private citizens with AR15's are presumed guilty and assumed to be causing crime.

When one citizen goes crazy and murders a bunch of people, the call goes out for ALL citizens to be stripped of their firearms...

Hyprocrisy.

[JSThane]

...a requirement for a 5.56x45mm NATO, select-fire firearm suitable for personal defense...

DHS actually IS buying "assault rifles." It's fancy legal-speak for an M-4. Both Border Patrol and Customs use them; Border Patrol far more often (AFAIK) than Customs due to the terrain BP works and the much further distance for backup / evac if the untreated sewage hits the rotating oscillating atmospheric redistribution machine.

And I do agree with DHS. An M-4 select-fire weapon, especially when loaded with proper expanding ammo (such as what is often used by law enforcement, including DHS), is an -excellent- personal defense weapon.

Which is why I believe we ALL should be able to buy them, not just DHS.