This isn’t exactly a huge deal. Of course a man near the end of his life is going to be looking back and scrutinizing his actions. Of course a man who is dying will have regrets. Would all of the people killed with AK-47s and AK-variants have been killed if Kalashnikov hadn’t invented the AK-47? Maybe; there were other guns available, and one of them would have filled the void. But on the other hand, his design was quite revolutionary and made the gun more durable, so perhaps if there were no AK-47 less of those people would have died. That this would be running through a dying man’s mind near the end isn’t exactly shocking. It’s also not exactly worthy of so much publicity.
Ultimately, the Patriarch has the right response. Kalashnikov was doing his duty by serving his country with his design. He is not responsible for the misuse of his weapons, any more than Henry Ford is responsible for all the deaths that have occurred because of people driving Ford vehicles.
NICE! Consider that quote stolen and re-used. Thanks!