I was Walmart shortly after they stopped selling AR style rifles. (As an aside, I bought a Colt LE 6920 at Walmart for $1069 during the gun shortage when they were selling for $2500 on the auction sites.) Right there in the display case was a Ruger Mini 14. I actually laughed out loud. I will admit the Mini 14 had a wood stock and not that scary black stuff like the ARs had.
Even funnier, you can get scary black plastic stocks for Rugers.
Did they have any of that special black paint that increases muzzle velocities 25%?