CNN Presents AR-15 as 'Full Semi-Automatic'

On Monday night, CNN aired a segment in which they presented the AR-15 as a “full semi-automatic.”

Although that is akin to presenting a fully complete partially-finished home or totally full half-glass of water, they made their claims with straight faces.

The segment featured CNN’s Gary Tuchman with retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, highlighting the ins and outs of the AR-15 rifle.

Tuchman fired the gun without firmly securing it against his shoulder, causing it to jump when fired. Then Hertling stepped up and fired a few rounds slowly, before announcing he was going to fire in “full semi-automatic” mode. This was code-talk for pulling the trigger more quickly.

It should be noted that it is possible to fire an AR-15 quickly, just as it is possible to fire a double-action revolver quickly. Both guns shoot one bullet every time the trigger is pulled, and either gun will shoot as fast as the gun’s owner can pull the trigger. However, as Hertling admitted when preparing to fire in “full semi-automatic” mode, it is far more difficult to hit the target when firing an AR-15 rapidly, as it is difficult to hit the target when firing any gun rapidly.

CNN presented the AR-15 as “full semi-automatic” just hours before Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) urged Congress to ban “massacre machine gun magazines.”

AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News, the host of the Breitbart podcast Bullets with AWR Hawkins, and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com. Sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange.