A new gun company is sending shockwaves through the anti-gun media, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom has weighed in.
Illinois gun maker Wee1 Tactical made its debut at SHOT Show 2022, unveiling a line of AR-style rifles designed to be used by kids. The semi-automatic rifle, dubbed the “JR-15,” is chambered in .22 LR and is about 20 percent smaller and 60 percent lighter than a normal AR-15.
Newsom called the product “vile” and demanded that “every NRA-backed politician… condemn” the rifle and the company.
This is VILE.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) February 17, 2022
A skull & crossbones with a pacifier on weapon of war.
Made to look “cute” to appeal to kids.
The manufacturer calls this a “JR-15.”
Every NRA-backed politician should condemn this. pic.twitter.com/VmsqaiCuEM
SEE ALSO: Washington Post Calls for Toy Gun Ban to ‘Modify Gun Culture’
The gun industry has been producing firearms geared towards children for decades. The Weatherby Compact, Savage Rascal, and Keystone Crickett are all designed to be easily and safely used by kids under adult supervision.
The shock Newsom and others express about the JR-15 is clearly derived from the misperception that the AR-15 is a “weapon of war” while a bolt-action rifle is not.
Ryan Busse, senior advisor at Giffords and former executive at Kimber, called the rifle an “egregiously tactical, offensive weapon of war” in an interview with Fast Company.
Speaking of misperceptions, the journalists at Fast Company also appear to be confused about the JR-15’s caliber. Here’s how they describe the difference between the cartridges used in the Wee1 rifle versus a standard AR-15.
“The JR-15 is a .22 caliber rifle, meaning it takes bullets of a .22-inch diameter; .22 caliber rifles are common as starter rifles because their shots are slightly slower than the cartridges used in an AR-15, with lower recoil—less painful for little shoulders,” they helpfully explain.
For those not familiar with the .223 Rem., the cartridge used in the majority of AR-15s, it shares a diameter with the .22 LR but is going about three times as fast and weighs 20-50% more.
SEE ALSO: Colorado School Suspends Student Five Days for ‘Waving’ Toy Gun During Zoom Class
Others take issue with Wee1 Tactical’s marketing. The logo is a childlike skull and crossbones with a pacifier, and bright pink and green differentiate the boys from the girls.
“That’s something we’ve never seen before,” said Josh Sugarmann, founder and executive director of Violence Policy Center. “I think what makes the WEE1 JR-15 really just so horrific is the fact that it’s saying the quiet part out loud. There’s no shame.”
The company describes the brand as “edgy.” At SHOT Show, reps handed out patches depicting a skeleton girl who is squirrel hunting with the JR-15. “The BRAND is meant to be EDGY. We believe it’s exciting and will build brand recognition and loyalty!” the website reads.
The JR-15 is designed with safety “at the forefront of our thought process,” according to the company. The rifle features a tamper-resistant safety that needs to be pulled out and rotated before it can fire. The rifle ships with a one-round magazine, but 5- and 10-round mags are also available.
“Our goal was to develop a shooting platform that was not only sized correctly, and safe, but also looks, feels, and operates just like Mom and Dad’s gun,” the company explains.
Drone strike Newsom!
So, after a drunk or drugged driver has killed a family while driving a Ford F-150 we should ban and censor all children’s toy F-150s because they are used to kill people???
Let us sue Ford while we are at it for manufacturing a dangerous vehicle which can go at freeway speeds and kills people if it gets into the wrong hands
Newson’s Mirror is VILE.
Newson will have to find new employment this November….
I think they have been making child size rifle for over 100 years. Winchester made an Boys model 1890 .22 short/long/long rifle. I have one of these made in 1898 along with other rifles made for boys that were produced by Winchester. Those are almost 100 years old too.
Two pounds!
I want for me. Great backpack/survival piece.
The liberal heart has so much distain and hate in their lives that this was totally expected. I’m just shocked they haven’t deemed it RACIST yet!
Small guns have been marketed for small persons for years, yer grandad may’ve learned on a stevens tipup or crackshot. This campaign (and they use such military terms shamelessly) is run by the sort of people who demilitarised the boy scouts, them emasculated them, as a trial run for how to do the same to our military.
Ok, I must have one of these.
I didn’t think that I would ever need any additional firearms, but now I do.
Queuing Bluedouche.
Where are you bluedouche?
Time for some troll vitriol!
What’s “vile” is all these Democrat politicians who take an oath of office to uphold and defend the constitution, then do anything ace everything in their power to violate it and infringe on our rights. Looking forward to a purge where tyrants are publicly hung in the streets.
Really Newsom ? What’s vile is what you and your auntie piglosi have done to California. Why don’t you slither back under your rock you loser.
If this is anything like most .22LR ARs, and by that I mean rickety misfiring pieces of junk, then by all means market them to children. Teach them that ARs don’t work from a young age and they will not stray far from that belief when they are grown.
There he is! I knew you wouldn’t disappoint!
Sorry bluedouche he/clown has been a disappointment his/it whole life, just ask his family. Lol