C. Oregon gun shops expect AR-15 sales to jump

The AR-15 is the most popular weapon in the U.S. because of its simplicity and design.

The owner of Redmond Black Rifle/Colfax Tactical said Monday this type of firearm is not considered an assault rifle, but rather a semi-automatic weapon.

Larry Myers said he expects gun sales to increase, as the gun reform debate is back in the spotlight.

“The civilian version the AR-15 is not a full automatic, it’s a semi-automatic — pull the trigger once and get one bullet,” Myers said.

Myers said gun owners can choose magazines that carry up to 20 bullets.

“They do not empty magazines within one minute unless you pull the trigger that many times,” Myers said.

Here in Central Oregon, ranchers prefer to purchase these types of weapons.

“It is a tactical weapon commonly used for home defense but most often utilized (for shooting) varmints,” he said.

Sharon Preston, a member of Ladies of Lead, teaches classes to educate first-time gun buyers on how the firearms are used.

Preston said if anyone in the Orlando nightclub had a gun, it could have been a different outcome.

Myers said gun violence is not the reason why the gunman opened fire.

“It’s a Islamic extremist wanted to kill gays in this country. Simple as that,” Myers said.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton tweeted on Monday asking Americans to demand their government do more to ban assault rifles.

Myers said politicians should educate themselves before trying to change gun laws.

“Most politicians don’t know what a assault rifle is,” he said. “Because they are black and military-looking does not make them an assault rifle.”

If you’re interested in purchasing a firearm, the Ladies of Lead do offer safety classes. They are online at Ladies of Lead