MARSHALL, Mich. (WOOD) — A class in Calhoun County shows people how to build their own AR-15 rifle.
That is the same military-style assault weapon used in several mass shootings in America.
Organizers say the class, held Tuesday in Marshall, is legal and was planned months ago, long before the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, that prompted millions of people to take to the streets over the weekend calling for an end to gun violence through common sense gun laws.
But protesters who came out Tuesday say the timing and the very idea of creating more of these guns is a terrible idea.
The sign in front of VFW Post #4073 that previously invited people to come out to learn to build an AR-15 read, “Blessed are the peacemakers” as the event was underway. About 60 people participated in the first of four three-hour classes to learn how to build a gun from a kit. It is a complicated process because a dismantled AR-15 has close to 200 parts.
Chris Walden, who owns Walden Arms in Battle Creek, teaches the class and sells the parts. He pointed out that all the guns have serial numbers, are registered and are sold only to those who legally can own them.
He said there was never any talk of delaying the class after the massacre in Florida last month that left 17 dead. The shooter used an AR-15.