By ABBY LLOYD

The AR-15 is the most popular weapon used in mass shootings in America today. The rifle was used in the most recent shooting in Parkland, Fla., killing 17 people. Before this incident, the rifle was used in the Sutherland Springs, Texas, a music festival in Las Vegas, and the Orlando nightclub. These mass shootings have only happened in the past year, killing more than 150 people.

After last weeks shooting in Parkland, survivors went to Florida’s capital to take action against the gun laws in Florida. According to CNN, the Florida Statehouse rejected the ban on semiautomatic guns. However, they declared that “porn is now an official public health risk but not the use of rifles,” said Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith from Orlando.

Why is the AR-15 so popular? The National Rifle Association said that the AR-15 is “popular because it’s customizable, adaptable, reliable and accurate.” People believe that the AR-15 has gotten a bad rap for the number of times it shows up in the news for mass shootings when in reality it was made for “sports shooting and hunting,” says the NRA.

The subject of AR-15 weapons is covered very well because it is a controversial topic of discussion. It was covered on almost all websites including, CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and others. They cover the basics of the AR-15 rifle and how it has been used in almost all mass shootings. There should be more coverage of the decision-making process among Florida officials to ban AR-15 rifles.