I guess this is a good a place as any for me to give my opinion of the AR. It is a fairly new platform for me because I waited to get out of Mass before acquiring one. I really had no interest in owning a bastardized version of this incredible piece of engineering.
It is not a black killing machine. It's actually a wonderful rifle. It's such a simple design, yet wonderfully complex, in that everything has been well thought out. The designer was obviously an avid gun guy and had identified everything that sucked about other guns.
First, it's stupid easy to take apart. For basic service you don't need a manual or a YouTube vid. No special tools. Couple of pins and poof, have at it.
It doesn't fail. It just works. Parts are interchangeable. It's basically a one design class for rifles.
It has a dust cover. Yes a dust cover. What a great idea!
Bolt didn't go in all the way? No problem, just push on the follower.
Want to add stuff? Pic rails, mlok holes everywhere... go to town.
And my most recent discovery. The magazine. The loading of ammo is ridiculously easy. No need for two hands, one to push down, the other to push it back. No struggling or need for some plastic load assist thingy. Just push straight down and in it goes to the proper spot every single time. Well, at least that's how it works with the 40 thirty round mags I own.... bawhahaha
And I'm probably just scratching the surface. I'm only now starting to understand the genius behind the gas block and tube.
Personally, I think that is what the message should be. It's not a killie machine. It's a well designed RIFLE for the gun enthusiast.