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The Selling of America's Most Controversial Gun
WSJ ^ | 22 sept 2023 | Cameron McWhirter, Zusha Elinson

Posted on 09/22/2023 2:39:17 PM PDT by rellimpank

In December 2005, five groups of Wall Street investors flew in private jets to Portland, Maine, where they took waiting limousines to a warren of metal buildings that resembled a midsize lumberyard. They had come to Bushmaster Firearms in pursuit of a highly profitable product whose market was growing faster than any other in America’s stagnant gun industry. The product was the AR-15, and red-hot Bushmaster, the nation’s leading manufacturer of the rifle, had decided to auction itself to the highest bidder.

Bushmaster’s owner Dick Dyke had once feared that he could never sell the company because so many people had a negative view of the gun. A few years earlier, Dyke had been forced to resign his post as President George W. Bush’s chief Maine fundraiser after the media found out he made AR-15s for a living. After that, his company was again pilloried when two snipers who terrorized the Washington, D.C. area used a Bushmaster in their attacks.

But by 2005, Dyke’s concerns had evaporated. Sales of the AR-15 were growing faster than any other rifle or shotgun. When Dyke let it be known that he might be interested in selling, potential private-equity buyers rushed up to Maine to see his operations and make a bid for the AR-15 maker. “All of the sudden, they became an amazing thing,” recalled John DeSantis, Bushmaster’s chief executive.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; bushmaster; buymybook; gunsar15; mancard; rkba
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1 posted on 09/22/2023 2:39:17 PM PDT by rellimpank
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To: rellimpank

There is nothing controversial about an AR-15 or any weapon. It is designed to kill. Government better heed that if they attempt to do something controversial like denying Americans their 2a rights.


2 posted on 09/22/2023 2:47:23 PM PDT by ConservativeInPA (Vacate the chair. Shutter the government until it can be correctly defunded.)
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To: rellimpank
I wouldn't know a Bushmaster

From a Bushmaster


3 posted on 09/22/2023 2:56:26 PM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: ConservativeInPA
It's just a rifle. I own many. Some AR-15, some AR-10, some bolt action in many calibers. They are designed to fire a projectile accurately. Mine hit paper targets accurately. They are designed to do that. They will only kill if I intentionally aim them at a living creature. Only my .22LR rifles have ever done that. It put rabbit on my table for dinner and a fresh pelt in my possession.
4 posted on 09/22/2023 2:57:24 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: rellimpank
… was growing faster than any other in America’s stagnant gun industry.

Well the Obamanation and his lackey Joe “the Big Guy” Biden certainly took care of that issue.

5 posted on 09/22/2023 3:03:01 PM PDT by Freedumb
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To: rellimpank
A very interesting article and no paywall. Thanks for posting. Like not a few others it seems, I disliked the Mattel toy lookalike for many years. Overcame that a few years ago.
6 posted on 09/22/2023 3:10:05 PM PDT by PsyCon
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To: Freedumb

I’d wager that whatever scheme the hapless Veep comes up with in her new job as Disarmament Czar will serve to increase AR sales considerably.


7 posted on 09/22/2023 3:18:02 PM PDT by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: gundog

Watch. The Dems will howl about getting rid of AR 15s. Then Nancy Pelosi will buy up Bushmaster stocks. All they care about is money.


8 posted on 09/22/2023 3:28:34 PM PDT by When do we get liberated? (A socialist is a communist who realizes he must suckle the breast of Capitalism.)
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To: When do we get liberated?
Watch. The Dems will howl about getting rid of AR 15s.

Doesn't matter what the fidiots do about their ar15 hatred. Like covid, there are so many variants both in appearance, caliber and style, let them howl at the moon for all the good it will do. Most of these libbies have never actually seen or touched a rifle using the ar platform and probably never will. I used the tried and true m16 in the 60's in combat, nice rifle, but for personal ownership there are just so many other fine superior arms available.

9 posted on 09/22/2023 3:36:07 PM PDT by redcatcherb412
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To: rellimpank

bkmk


10 posted on 09/22/2023 4:29:47 PM PDT by sauropod (I will stand for truth even if I stand alone.)
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To: When do we get liberated?

Looks like Cerberus owns Bushmaster. Probably s few other manufacturers, as well.


11 posted on 09/22/2023 4:40:19 PM PDT by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: rellimpank

It doesnt matter the gun

They have just locked onto this one as a symbol

Its a focal point for rally

So keep using it and carrying it where you can


12 posted on 09/22/2023 4:52:28 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

Right. It is the focal point. If they can demonize the AR platform and get rid of it, another platform will take it’s place.

It’s all about disarming us while allowing the cartels to roam our country with automatic weapons.

And if the SHTF, we will have to defend ourselves from govt agencies with automatic weapons (Waco) AND cartels with the same weapons.


13 posted on 09/22/2023 4:59:22 PM PDT by Texas resident (We are living through Barak's fundamental transformation)
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To: PsyCon
It is a surprisingly thorough article - not many have mentioned the fact that Cerberus was seeking a spot at military-industrial pig trough, but ended up going with civilian gun sales when the military prospects dimmed.

As for Bushmaster, many of their experienced employees got the shaft when Freedom Group merged it with Remington and moved production out of Maine. Years later, many of those employees got back in the game by creating Windham Weaponry, which was well-respected as a quality manufacturer, but one that didn't go overboard with the tacticool features and accessories.

Unfortunately, Windham recently fell victim to mounting post-COVID supply and costs problems, and ultimately shut its doors. Pity, too... it was a good source for mil-spec AR barrels with chrome lined bores.

14 posted on 09/22/2023 5:02:58 PM PDT by Charles Martel (Progressives are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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To: rellimpank

Bkmk/ar 15


15 posted on 09/22/2023 5:52:32 PM PDT by leaning conservative (snow coming, school cancelled, yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!)
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To: rellimpank

Carried one for four years, the original one with splayed flash suppressor and no forward assist. Cleaned 30 per shift as an armorer (as well as 30 S&W K-38 and 4 M-60’s). Never had ammo problems despite shooting up multiple cans of 5.56 to avoid inspection gigs. Reliable weapon from my experience. Article failed to mention the modularity factor that makes it popular.


16 posted on 09/22/2023 7:24:54 PM PDT by Rowdyone (Vigilence)
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To: rellimpank; mylife; Joe Brower; MaxMax; Randy Larsen; waterhill; Envisioning; AZ .44 MAG; umgud; ...

RKBA Ping List


This Ping List is for all news pertaining to infringes upon or victories for the 2nd Amendment.

FReepmail me if you want to be added to or deleted from this Ping List.

More 2nd Amendment related articles on FR's Bang List.

17 posted on 09/22/2023 9:30:31 PM PDT by PROCON (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: rellimpank

It’s not really controversial.

The left makes that claim over anything it doesn’t approve of.

We have to stop allowing them to control the narrative and the language.


18 posted on 09/22/2023 9:37:30 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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To: Myrddin

Didn’t you loose all your firearms in a boating incident when they all fell overboard and sank in very deep water?


19 posted on 09/23/2023 2:19:07 AM PDT by stockpirate (Where Justice Ends Tyranny Begins...Repression Breeds Violence")
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To: rellimpank
I knew this wouldn't take long from MSDNC. Here's the first lie:

The AR-15 was created for the U.S. military in the 1950s

No it wasn't. The AR-15 IS and was ALWAYS strictly a civilian rifle. Not one military in the world has ever adopted the AR-15.

Civilian AR-15s sold in the U.S. are semiautomatic.

No. ALL AR-15's are civilian and are semiautomatic. What the military used are M-16s and now M-4s. They have select fire capability. They are NOT AR-15s.

The article keeps talking about "civilian versions of the AR-15." They're ALL civilian versions or they are not AR-15s. There's no such thing as a military version of an AR-15. Those are not AR-15s.

20 posted on 09/23/2023 3:16:31 AM PDT by FLT-bird
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