The divisive allure of the AR-15 rifle in America

The AR-15 semi-automatic rifle is a popular and versatile gun in the US, but it is also reviled and blamed for a rise in mass shootings. Gun control advocates want to ban it, while gun-rights advocates say it is their constitutional right to own one. Bans on semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15 have been passed in several states, and President Joe Biden wants to reinstate a nationwide ban. The effects of bans on mass shootings are difficult to determine, and researchers say mental illness is not a key factor in most mass shootings. The gun industry's marketing techniques have been scrutinized by Congress, and families of people killed in mass shootings are pressing for new regulations on semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15.