The AR platform is no longer lethal enough for the Military.

[yagotme]

15. Hmmm. Lethal, military-type weapons from the military:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_model_1873
1873 trapdoor rifle. 45-70 black powder. If it doesn't penetrate your vest, you will wish it would have. .45 ca, 405 gr bullet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krag%E2%80%93J%C3%B8rgensen
1892 Krag bolt rifle. .30-40 Krag. .308 220 gr FMJ bullet. It will penetrate your soft vest, the vest of the guy behind you, and give a real thump to the 3rd guy in line.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1903_Springfield
1903 Springfield bolt rifle. .30-06. .308 150gr FMJ spitzer bullet. See penetration results for Krag. (Also the go-to hunting round in this country since the early 1900's, still used as a "yardstick" of performance today.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Garand
1936 M-1 Garand semi-auto rifle. .30-06. See 1903 for other info.
(During same time, 1941 Johnson semi-auto. 10 rds .30-06.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M14_rifle
1959 M-14 select fire rifle. 7.62 NATO/.308. 147 gr FMJ spitzer bullet. Near same as .30-06 ballistically. Here's where things start splitting: The M-14 was designed as a select fire weapon. The civilian M1A is not. Same profile, same cartridge, but no fun switch. 20 round magazine is STANDARD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle
1964 M-16 select fire rifle. 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem. Initially, 55 gr FMJ spitzer bullet. Penetrates first layer soft armor easily. M-16 designed as select fire weapon, later AR-15's, not. Same split as M-14/M1A. 20 rd magazine and 30 rd magazine are STANDARD.

All these weapon systems, except the last 2, have been surplused to civilian sales throughout history. You can still buy an M-1 through the CMP program today. ALL of them defeat soft armor readily (perhaps excepting the trapdoor, but you would wish it would have. We're talking sledgehammer effects, here.) The US has always had ready availability of weapons, mail order even, until 1968. Why is it we're only having real problems the last 20 years or so? Perhaps it's another problem, one not related directly to weapons. Maybe the DESIRE/WILL to kill has changed. Mind altering drugs, psychotropics, etc., well, alter the mind. I bet a LOT of the mass shooters have/had been taking pshyco's for awhile. Change my mind???