[Who is John Galt?]

It stands for Armalite Rifle - look it up.

Here's an ArmaLite AR-9...

...and it's a shotgun, not an "automatic rifle" or an "ArmaLite rifle".

And then there's the ArmaLite AR-17...

...which is also a shotgun, and also not an "automatic rifle" or an "ArmaLite rifle".

But this is one of my favorites - the ArmaLite AR-24...

..so what do you think - does AR really stand "for Armalite Rifle"?

;>)

[Eleutheria5]

Oh, nose! They make automatic rifles so compact, they can fit into your pocket!/s

[jurroppi1]

In the context of the article and Whorealdo’s comments the AR in AR-15 most definitely stands for ArmaLite Rifle.

That you can find nits to pick is your prerogative, though it is also anally retentive and pedantic.