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What is it like to fire an AR-15? It’s horrifying, menacing and very very loud
Daily News ^ | June 14, 2016 | GERSH KUNTZMAN

Posted on 06/14/2016 6:35:59 PM PDT by digger48

It feels like a bazooka — and sounds like a cannon.

One day after 49 people were killed in the Orlando shooting, I traveled to Philadelphia to better understand the firepower of military-style assault weapons and, hopefully, explain their appeal to gun lovers.

But mostly, I was just terrified.

Many gun shops turned down our request to fire and discuss the AR-15, a style of semi-automatic rifle popular with mass killers such as San Bernardino terrorist Syed Farook and similar to the Sig Sauer MCX rifle used by Orlando terrorist Omar Mateen.

Killers in mass shootings used AR-15, thanks to NRA But Frank Stelmach of Double Tap Shooting Range and Gun Shop invited me, videographer Michael Sheridan and reporter Adam Shrier to come down. Stelmach is not like many gun lovers. He admires his weaponry, yes, and has difficulty explaining why law-abiding citizens need a gun that can empty a 40-round clip in less than five seconds. But he also hates the idea that “bad people” get a hold of a gun like this and use it to kill without difficulty.

“There should be expanded background checks — extending into your family, friends and associates,” he said. “And there should be a mental health screening. In Europe, if you want to buy a gun, you have to see a doctor (for a psychiatric examination) to see if something’s not right.”

Gersh Kuntzman works with gun ghop owner Frank Stelmach on how to handle the AR-15. Gersh Kuntzman works with gun ghop owner Frank Stelmach on how to handle the AR-15. Stelmach, who opened his shop six years ago after a career in law enforcement in Europe, even calls for government officials to take away guns from some owners — something very few gun advocates support.

He also said he never sells a gun to someone who “looks a little bit funny,” and he claimed he had prevented many guns from getting into the wrong hands because the would-be purchaser “asked stupid questions” like, “What happens to me if the gun is stolen?”

But very few gun shop owners do anything close to Stelmach’s sniff test — and he acknowledged how easy it is to find another gun shop owner willing to make the sale.

Very easy. In fact, as Philadelphia Daily News columnist Helen Ubinas showed today, you can get a military weapon in seven minutes in this country.

Richard Cohen: American insanity: Assault rifles for all Stelmach doesn’t think it should be easy. But he thinks it should be allowed.

He loves the AR-15 for cops, soldiers, hunters and target shooters. “It’s fun to shoot something like that,” he said.

Not in my hands. I’ve shot pistols before, but never something like an AR-15. Squeeze lightly on the trigger and the resulting explosion of firepower is humbling and deafening (even with ear protection).

The recoil bruised my shoulder. The brass shell casings disoriented me as they flew past my face. The smell of sulfur and destruction made me sick. The explosions — loud like a bomb — gave me a temporary case of PTSD. For at least an hour after firing the gun just a few times, I was anxious and irritable.

Even in semi-automatic mode, it is very simple to squeeze off two dozen rounds before you even know what has happened. In fully automatic mode, it doesn’t take any imagination to see dozens of bodies falling in front of your barrel.

All it takes is the will to do it.

Forty nine people can be gone in 60 seconds.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; US: Florida; US: New York; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2016election; 2ndamendment; ar15; banglist; clueless; demagogicparty; election2016; gershkuntzman; guncontrol; memebuilding; metrosexual; newyork; newyorkdailynews; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; secondamendment; trump
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To: MarkL

Judging from the rest of this article, I wonder if this gun shop even exists.


81 posted on 06/14/2016 7:35:14 PM PDT by digger48
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To: digger48

What a pussy. And he wasn’t testing an AR either because it was select fire according to article.


82 posted on 06/14/2016 7:36:32 PM PDT by Axenolith (Government blows, and that which governs least, blows least...)
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To: polymuser
How about he goes and shoots this... for an education on what is horrifying, menacing, and very loud ?

(source: pluckerzcorner.typepad.com)

83 posted on 06/14/2016 7:39:49 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: Axenolith

Considering the rest of the article, “select fire” to this guy is probably just the safety.

Safety on - no fire

Safety off - bazooka time


84 posted on 06/14/2016 7:44:41 PM PDT by digger48
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To: digger48
So a reporter lies. He lies to advance his agenda. He lies to please his editor. He lies to brown nose his employer. He lies to protect his paycheck.

For whatever reason, a reporter lies, because no matter how you spin this, this story is full of lies. AR 15's do not kick. The recoil is, by any measure, mild at worst. With hearing protection, the most you hear is a a soft "clunk".

The gun shop owner has attitudes I've never encountered in several decades of interactions in gun shops, but I wasn't there. I know what I believe, but since I wasn't there, I won't say he's lying about what this owner said. but given how easy it was for this guy to lie about other things in this story, just say I have my doubts.

Lying in the press has happened before, and I'm never surprised by it, and you shouldn't be surprised either.

85 posted on 06/14/2016 7:53:00 PM PDT by Wingy
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To: digger48

He’s a Kuntz.


86 posted on 06/14/2016 7:53:52 PM PDT by Rome2000 (SMASH THE CPUSA-SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS-CLOSE ALL MOSQUES)
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To: polymuser

12 gauge magnum is friggin’ ruthless!

30-30 isn’t so bad. That is the first strong rifle I fired as a kid, it didn’t knock me out of the tree so that one was okay.

30-06 is a man’s rifle for sure, and a 300 win mag is basically like standing next to a tank firing its main gun.


87 posted on 06/14/2016 7:54:03 PM PDT by chris37 (heartless)
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To: digger48

Who is Gooshy Kuntman and why is he writing this drivel?


88 posted on 06/14/2016 7:55:24 PM PDT by OldSmaj (Voting for Hillary because she is a woman is like eating a turd because it looks like a Baby Ruth.)
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To: digger48
This is not an AR-15.


89 posted on 06/14/2016 7:58:28 PM PDT by Colinsky
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To: sockmonkey

The AR has to be the most comfortable shooting gun since the M1 carbine. You have to be a tough girl if you like shooting Mosins.


90 posted on 06/14/2016 7:59:06 PM PDT by Yogafist
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To: polymuser

“How about a 12 gauge.”

My 18-year old daughter (130 lbs?) DOES feel it after shooting 200 plus rounds of 12 gauge trap and skeet in a day. No bruises though.


91 posted on 06/14/2016 8:00:34 PM PDT by 21twelve (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185147/posts It is happening again.)
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To: jazusamo

“Kuntzman is living in lala land and should stay there.”

That may be true, but you have to admit he is well named.


92 posted on 06/14/2016 8:04:21 PM PDT by Psalm 144 (We are at that point, where we stand with Leonidas, or slither with Ephialtes.)
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To: digger48

What a pussy. A waste of oxygen.


93 posted on 06/14/2016 8:04:27 PM PDT by AlaskaErik (I served and protected my country for 31 years. Progressives spent that time trying to destroy it.)
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To: digger48

Watching BOR talking banning “high power” and “heavy weapons”.
Obviously thinks those are being used.
So Bill’s a blatant gun ignoramous, too.


94 posted on 06/14/2016 8:06:43 PM PDT by polymuser (Enough is enough!)
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To: polymuser

My M-44 would make him piss his britches


95 posted on 06/14/2016 8:07:00 PM PDT by CAP811 (One man can change the world with a bullet in the right place)
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To: digger48

An AR-15 has such a gentle recoil that a nine year old girl can fire one without bruising. I have to wonder how much of this article is a lie and just made up.


96 posted on 06/14/2016 8:07:22 PM PDT by AlaskaErik (I served and protected my country for 31 years. Progressives spent that time trying to destroy it.)
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To: Psalm 144

“you have to admit he is well named.”

It sure is.


97 posted on 06/14/2016 8:09:08 PM PDT by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Colinsky

Hell no! Shot the windshield?!


98 posted on 06/14/2016 8:09:33 PM PDT by polymuser (Enough is enough!)
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To: digger48

An AR 15 is recoilless. What a pu$$y.


99 posted on 06/14/2016 8:12:04 PM PDT by MuttTheHoople (Yes, Liberals, I question your patriotism)
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To: digger48

I wonder WTF these dildos call a 303 ENFIELD, Or a Springfield for that matter.

Hey ASSHOLES!? What is a M1 Garand? Or even a M14?

The most dangerous weapon in the world is a human with bad intentions. Lets ban them, how bout that you dilos.
How about this. What can a human do with a pen or a pencil? Through the human eye is a direct soft route to the brain. Ban those also!


100 posted on 06/14/2016 8:17:39 PM PDT by crz
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