yes, if a gun can match the AR in the shear killing power of human beings then, yes, it should be in the same class.
So ... Do you believe that American citizens should NOT have ANY means to resist an invading force, or a corrupt government? If the Government decides to thrust Socialism upon us (Bernie Sanders - Elizabeth Warren - Hillary Clinton et. al.) which will ultimately lead to Communism, should we just roll over and take it in the rectum?
The AR is in a class of it's own because it is designed from the ground up for mass killing. And it was designed that way back in the 50s and it hasn't changed one bit since then. In fact, I can have the original AR-15 Model 601 that was sold to Maylasia and the United States Air Force long before the Army purchased the M-16 and I can use the same parts off the M-16A4. It was built for a specific task and only one specific task and it was built perfect. And that task was for mass killing in a Military World. If you believe that the Civilian AR-15 is different than the Military M-16 you would be wrong. There are only about 2 or 3 parts that are different and those determine whether it can fire only semi auto or 3 shot burst. All the other parts are completely interchangeable including the Barrels, Chamber and Bolt. In a real life Urban combat situation, there are models of the Civilian AR-15 that are superior to the M-16A4 or even the M-4 according to some of the "Experts" who have tested them. But it doesn't have to do with speed, reloading, or any of that. It has to do with the fact that you can use custom parts like sights, stocks and such that makes the custom AR a faster weapon to bring to bear. Other than that, in an Urban setting, you won't be using 3 shot burst at all. And NO production M-16s currently are full autos since the M-16A2 was discontinued decades ago.
Which part of the AR15 forces its owners to abandon all reason and just go out and kill people?
There is a very good reason it looks like it does and it has nothing to do with "It's Scary" or it's "Black". It all has to do with it's function. And there is nothing left over for anything other than function. This is why even the ones that they keep trying to replace it with look externally very similar to the AR-15.
Again, regardless of the origin of the AR platform, it is GOOD firearm for general use, home defense, hunting, target shooting, and offering some resistance to an oppressive invading force.
Please clarify your position. Do you believe Americans SHOULD, or SHOULD NOT have access to effective firearms such as the AR15?
I believe that you should have a gun suited for the job. If I need a hammer, I should have a hammer. If I need a 1/2 inch open end wrench I should have a 1/2 open end wrench. If I need a crow bar, I should have a crow bar. But I can do most of these things with a Crescent Wrench. Does that mean that this justifies me having a crescent wrench? No. Only if I need the specific needs of a crescent wrench. The Hammer does a better job as a hammer. The wrench does a better job as a wrench and the crow bar does a better job as a crow bar.
Same goes with the AR-15. Yes, it can varmint hunt but so can A host of other rifles for equal or less and you get top quality as well. Here are some that are listed as the best. BTW, the AR-15 doesn't make ANY if the best Serious Varmint Rifle Lists.
Remington Model 783 Bolt Action Comes with a good 4X scope and a Nylon Stock. You can get it in 4 calibers including the .223 This is one of the Best Buys out there.
Remington Model 700 Varmint SF Bolt Action. This one is a Name Your Own Caliber from the 223, 22-250, 243, 7mm, 308, 30.06 and even more. It ain't cheap. It's the caddy of the varmint rifles.
Ruger 77/22 Another Varmint Rifle of top quality equal to or cheaper than the cheapest AR-15 pieces of junk. It comes in most of the 22 caliber including the 22 hornet and 22 swifts as well as the 223. Bolt action. For the price, it is extreme accurate and long ranged.
Savage 110 Varmint This has to be the best buy of all the varmint rifles. It costs less than 300 bucks, is long ranged, comes in the popular 22 caliber sized like the 223 and a few more. If the 223 isn't horse enough you do have the option to buy it in the 22-250 which is a real workhorse. It's well built and should last for decades without showing wear. You can't even buy a junker AR new for what this one costs and, for sure, your junker AR can't even come close to the quality nor the accuracy. Yes, it's bolt action. But take it from a shooter, one shot, one kill.
Winchester Model 70 Coyote Light. We just stepped into the Rolls Royce on this one. Forget the Cost. it's still cheaper than many AR-15s though at less than 1000 bucks. But this puppy tops the list. No, it does not come in 223. But considering it only comes in 22.250 who the hell cares. You want a real 400 yd ranged 22 caliber, here it is.
When you list these guns, the AR-15 becomes the assault crescent wrench when you need a varmint gun or just need a hammer. As for home defense, first choice is always a shotgun. Second choice is a handgun with either a 5 or a 7 inch barrel. Or any handgun you have at the time, even a lowly 380 or even a tiny 25 or a 22 lr. The last thing you need is an AR. But if that is all you got........ But if that is all you got you are an idiot and probably shouldn't own a gun in the first place.