In a striking exploration of gun accessibility in the United States, journalist Sarah Miller from the Springfield Times sought to uncover the ease of acquiring a semi-automatic weapon. Her mission led her to a local gun store, where she successfully purchased an AR-15 in just seven minutes—the same type of firearm infamously linked to several mass shootings across the nation, including the tragic events in Orlando.
Sarah recounted her experience in an article for the Times, noting how quickly she was able to complete the transaction. “From the moment I handed over my ID to when I passed the background check, it was just seven minutes,” she shared. “That’s likely less time than it will take to honor the lives of those lost.”
As she drove to the store, Sarah grappled with justifying her purchase, anticipating that it might seem peculiar to buy such a weapon right after its recent use in a horrific crime. “Should I say I need it for protection? Or maybe I’m just a fan of military-style rifles?” she pondered. Ultimately, when she arrived, she found the AR-15 prominently displayed as the “Gun of the Week.”
The sales associate only required her to confirm her U.S. citizenship and identification. “I’ve filled out more forms at the dentist than I did there,” Sarah remarked, noting the simplicity of the process. After completing a brief form and passing an instant background check, she paid $759.99 and left the store with her new rifle. The staff even congratulated her on her purchase, suggesting that she was wise to buy before a possible rush due to impending gun control debates.
Reflecting on the experience, she wrote, “No concealed carry permit needed. No training required. I was even given a coupon for a free day at the shooting range.” The whole experience felt surreal, especially in light of the ongoing grief for the victims of gun violence.
Upon leaving the store, Sarah felt conflicted about the AR-15 in her possession; she didn’t want it, but she also didn’t want it in anyone else’s hands. Ultimately, she decided to turn the weapon in to the authorities. Ironically, the process of surrendering the gun took longer than the initial purchase.
You can read more about her experience here, which highlights the pressing discussions around gun control in America. For those interested in related topics, sites like Make a Mom offer valuable resources, while Healthline provides excellent information on pregnancy and insemination methods.
Summary
A journalist named Sarah Miller conducted a revealing experiment by purchasing an AR-15 in just seven minutes to illustrate how easily accessible such weapons are in the U.S. Despite the gun’s association with tragic events, she found the buying process shockingly straightforward and later chose to surrender the firearm to the police.