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Should AR-15s be issued to civilians? It's a 'weapon of war' and shouldn't 'belong to citizens', Internet says

'I am all for #RKBA but... something needs to be done about this. Should we really be owning AR-15s?' read one of the comments

The second mass shooting in a week came in the form of a gunman opening fire in a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday, March 22. The aftermath was the death of 10 people, including a police officer. This led to netizens sharing their opinion on social media after a CNN report said that "one senior law enforcement source told the news site the weapon used in the shooting was an AR-15-style rifle". This led to a massive debate on the actual use of the AR-15 and whether or not, it should be issued to civilians.

Earlier, we reported that the NRA came under intense scrutiny earlier after the mass shooting. It celebrated a win in a case last week when Boulder County District Court Judge Andrew Hartman ruled that the city could not enforce its ordinance banning the possession, transfer, or sale of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines because state law says local governments cannot prohibit the possession or sale of firearms.

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"Goodnight #Resisters Let me start off by saying #FuckTheNRA Now that that's off my chest, fuck everyone who sends them money. Fuck everyone who thinks they need an AR15 for self-defense (hey fellas, your pussy's showing). My thoughts are with the newest victims. Love y'all," read one of the tweets.

Some segments said this belonged to the military. "The AR-15 and AR17 etc., are military weapons to be used by service persons in war - or Afghanistan etc. Look at Don Jr and his weapons always on display behind him when he does his coked up mini videos ... special made weapons not available on market."

A former marine put forth this thought as well. "1. An AR-15 uses same exact round my M16 used when I served in Marines; 2. Even as an active duty Marine our weapons were stored/locked in an armory & only permitted during training or war; PS: An AR-15 is a weapon of war & should not belong in the hands of everyday citizens."

"I am all for #RKBA but... something needs to be done about this. Should we really be owning AR-15s? I mean, own a rifle but one of this magnitude? Seriously? People are fucked here in the US mental illness is at it’s all time high!" one of the people wrote. "I think everyone has the right to defend their homes and families. No one has any legitimate need for a weapon like that. An Ar15 is a weapon of war not defense. From someone who grew up around guns and believes in the 2nd amendment," one of the comments read.

One of the victims was 51-year-old Eric Talley, an 11-year veteran on the Boulder force. Talley was responding to the shooting at the King Soopers grocery market where he was gunned down.