First point, AR does not stand for Assault Rifle. It actually is the first two letters of the original manufacturer's name, ARmalite. Too, the AR was origionally designed as a .308 rifle, by Eugene Stoner. Obviously you've got your designers mixed up, as the AK, was designed by Kalashnikov, not the AR. Too, the origional AK is a heavy caliber (7.62 x 39), mid range weapon, which can easily reach out to 150 yards, and beyond, with good accuracy. On the other hand, the AR, especially in 5.56, can easily drive tacks at 400 yards and beyond. Last, just for imformational purposes, the AK, and AR DESIGNS are readily available in a variety of calibers from .22 to .50. In other words it's all about DESIGN, and caliber really means little to nothing beyond the knockdown force of your caliber of choice, in either rifle.
Saddly, it's folks making statements like yours, and basing their ideas on misinformation such as this, thatgoes a long way toward putting all of our gun rights at risk. I can assure you the anti-gunners don't care what you use your rifle for, it can kill, so they want it gone.....
That being said, in the original, full auto configuration, yes both the AR and AK rifles were designed for warfare. That makes them no different than many other rifles originally designed for warfare, regardless of whether they were bolt action, semi auto, or whatever. Since you brought up hunting, remember, the 7mm and 8 mm Mauser, which is a really popular hunting rifle, was origionally designed by the Germans as a military rifle. The same goes for the Ruger Mini14 and Mini 30, which were based of the M14 action. That same idea, even if it's not the same action, spun off even further into the ever popular 10/22. I could go on, but for the same of at least a little brevity I won't.
In other words the main push for nearly ever major firearm advancement, in the past hundred plus years, has been in answer to the military's call for a better, more reliable rifle or pistol. In all cases it comes down to nothing more than a basic firearm design, that, while made for the military originally, was redesigned as a semi auto, or had other modifications made, to make it more acceptable, and more useful to civilians.
In the end, regardless of who designed the firearm, it's the person using it that makes it either an 'evil' weapon, or a useful tool. To put a stigma on a design, just because it had it's origins on the battle field, is just plain irresponsible.
On that note, please explain why there isn't the same stigma placed on that evil 1911 Colt auto pistol? Seriously, think about it, the 1911 was designed for the military, and has one of the longest histories of military use of any firearm, regardless of type. Now days it's still one of the most reliable, most loved, most used pistols our there, but it doesn't have the stigma attached that the AR, or AK does even though that design has killed more than it's share of people in a combat scenario.
As far as my story, you obviously weren't there, nor did you know the kid like I did. I will say that your right, in the fact that it was a good thing that no one got shot that night. Things could, and I expect would, have gone to a whole different level had I not had my pistol with me to use as a deterrent to his 'I'm a bad a-- ego' brought about by his owning a pistol.
That aside, as I have stated, the way I was taught, you DO NOT draw a gun unless you plan, or are prepared, to use it. So, when he drew on me (no 'supposedly' about it) it was far from 'obvious', at least to me, that he didn't intend to use it. As far as him having a defensible position, simply because he was on his Mom's property, and I had a pistol also,is utter BS. There were multiple witnesses as to what was happening, including his Mom who was pleading with him not to be stupid, and telling him that what he was planning wasn't a good idea...but he was simply too stupid and/or arrogant to listen to her. The only thing that made this kid rethink his position was the fact that he knew me well enough to know that I was both a better shot than he was, and that I DO NOT PLAY when it comes to guns. He also knew, as I told him when I picked up mine out of the seat of my truck, that if his gun went beyond where it was when it came out of the truck, and if it swung any further in my direction, I would drop him where he stood. Further, if you think that shooting someone simply because they are in your Mom's yard, and they are airing your dirty laundry to your parents offers up a 'defensible' position, then might I suggest that you need to take the time to educate yourself on the laws of self defense in general, and especially as they apply to the use of a firearm/deadly force.
As for your question about having to draw mine making me 'feel better' all I can say to that is, 'are you serious'? Personally, I see life as a precious thing, and just the thought of possibly having to shoot him was enough to make me sick to my stomach. However, as I basically told his Mom when she came up to me after the incident, I value my life((( and the life of my family))) over the life of others. While I respected the fact that he was her son, I have a family that relies on me, and I would have dropped him without a second thought, to protect myself, if he had been stupid enough to take it that far. Fortunately for the both of us my pistol, did it's job, and acted as a deterrent, and I DID NOT have to resort to using it as a weapon.
In case you want to know how that made me feel...it felt great not to have been shot at, but more so not to have had to take a life......
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