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Colt AR-15

Salesman Ryan Martinez clears the chamber of an AR-15 at Ready Gunner, a gun store in Provo, Utah.

The ‘most popular rifle in America’ was used in the country’s latest shooting

Culture

The National Rifle Association has called the AR-15 the “most popular rifle in America” and estimates Americans own more than 8 million of them. The NRA says the gun is popular because it’s “customizable, adaptable, reliable and accurate.” Those features may also explain why it’s also become a weapon of choice for mass shootings.

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