[Modok]

That article caused me to wet myself. I am now so frightened.

[RayStacy]

for later

[AdamSelene235]

defining in our consciousness the contours of a deadly weapon.

Actually, my first thought is the gunman is obviously poor and clueless about rifles.

[edpc]

the AK is responsible for about a quarter-million deaths every year.

I hate it when the AK, or any other weapon, just goes around firing itself and killing people.

Also, I guess it's time for me to open my usual can of worms by saying the AK is a blatant ripoff of the German MP-44. Someone always disagrees, however.

[Ken522]

...change the way wars were fought and won.

What??? Larry needs to study history a little bit before making such a stupid statement.

[Grut]

It has become a cultural icon, its signature form -- that banana-shaped magazine -- defining in our consciousness the contours of a deadly weapon.

Thanks, but I'll take a BUF for my iconic weapon... even has a bathroom, of sorts.

[GoldCountryRedneck]

Needs gun porn ...

Courtesy of AK47.net

[Eclectica]

Kalashnikov is reported to have copied the Wehrmacht's original, selective-fire, rifle—the StG 44. (The REAL assault-weapon).

[Brett66]

Ahh,another Christmas present for myself -as soon as I get the money.

[VoiceOfBruck]

Battle of Bryansk ping

[padre35]

the first shot in the battle to reban so called "assault rifles" has just been fired by a latte' drinking Wapo writer.

The Ak 47 is no more deadly than the person who is using it, and there desire to use it.

Put on your helmets folks, here it comes...again.

[Inyo-Mono]

It is the firearm of choice for at least 50 legitimate standing armies and countless fighting forces from Africa and the Middle East to Central America and Los Angeles.

Too funny, I think.

[Neo-Luddite]

"But it was heavy, clunky and held only eight rounds in its magazine, and was not an automatic weapon".





Oh, well. It was in the Washington Post after all.

[padre35]

the man who wrote the article does not know squat about rifles for instance:

Just before the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, bin Laden distributed the first of several videotapes warning the West about reprisals. In these tapes, the al-Qaeda leader is seen with an AK either next to him or propped up in the background. The typical stock footage shows a white-robed bin Laden firing an AK, a symbol to the world that he is a true anti-imperialist fighter.

OBL had a AK 74 a "bizor" propped up against that cave wall Kalashnikov had little to do with the design of the AK 74.

[Jack Hammer]

"....the AK is responsible for about a quarter-million deaths every year."

It's quite a weapon and a wonderful design achievement; however, it has yet to develop will and the capacity to act independently. It is thus responsible for no deaths at all. None. Ever. A great many communists and other deluded madmen, the demented and homicidally inclined, together with an international cast of millions - idiots and creeps - must bear that responsibility.

[Mariner]

Still, the best combat weapon ever devised.

[WilliamWallace1999]

The real original....

[MaDeuce]

I'm surprised that the people hear reading the story haven't picked up on the REASON for the story.

It is another "Primer" story to get Americans scared of the AK47 and ASSAULT WEAPONS!

This story is to prime the public for the up-and-coming Assault Weapons Ban to be passed by congress and signed by "W" early next year.

There will be many more stories on these "ugly", "black", assault rifles in the coming weeks and months. This time the AWB will include (as I have read (D-NY) Carolyn McCarthy's new AWB bill), a ban on all semi-auto hand, rifle, and shotguns. Also the AG will have the authority to ban any weapon he/she deems not meeting the their idea of a "sporting purpose".

I'm surprised that some many of you did not see this about this story. It will make it so much easier for the ATF to come take your guns away since we all laugh at reporters who write this garbage, but fail to see the reason why they wrote it.

[piytar]

The AK is also the weapon of choice in the latest "small war" that a superpower believed would be brief and painless: Iraq.

I seriously wonder what speaches this author listened to, if any. NOBODY said Iraq would be quick or easy. President Bush said quite the contrary, repeatedly. Too bad the aurhor had to interject this little bit of implied Bush-bashing in an otherwise excellent article...

[labette]

Gee, I'd better throw some extra locks and chains around the old gun safe. We wouldn't want the AK to get out and start shooting up the place!