Republican representatives have introduced legislation to officially designate the AR-15 as America's "national gun," the latest example of the veneration of firearms veneration by a section of the U.S. right. It's increasingly clear that the AR-15 has become more than just a gun. It's a political symbol. 

Discussing the AR-15's appeal on the right, Grant Reeher, professor of political science, tells Newsweek: "In large part, I think it's because this particular rifle has become such a public target for Democrats and liberals regarding gun regulation and control.

"I have heard some gun owners say it's important for gun owners to have at least one of these rifles, just to make a statement. The rifle has become a symbol of the debate over gun control, and the political right is more associated with gun ownership and rights," he says.

Reeher was also quoted in The Guardian article, "‘It’s a weapon to hunt people!’ Why so many Americans hate – and love – the AR-15." 

"Simply because it [AR-15] becomes such a pariah gun, there are other gun owners that want to make sure that they’ve got at least one," Reeher says. "There are folks that like owning them, and want to show other people that they own them, in part to make a statement about themselves politically."