Why Is This AR-15 Being Called the 'Most Terrifying Thing on the Internet'?

Among the many subcultures on the community forum website Reddit is a lesser known "gunsforsale" subreddit where some firearms are being sold.

And there's something on there that's being called "the most terrifying thing on the internet."

So what is it? Well, among the latest of the weapons to show up on the site is an AR-15 engraved with Reddit's very own alien icon. It was posted by the Redditor x---x--x-x four days ago for $1,150. For an extra $50 the seller said he would include 200 rounds and a magazine loader with the rifle, case and magazines.

(Photo: Imgur via Reddit)

Here's more from the seller's description about the gun:

The deets: *Custom engraved Reddit lower purchased in initial Reddit lower buy. *PSA lower parts kit *PSA bolt carrier group *BCM 14.5" mid upper w/ pinned flash hider *Troy battlesight affixed to rear *OD Green Magpul MOE furniture *3 OD Green windowed PMAGs *Blackhawk! soft case

I've only put a couple hundred rounds through it since building it in, I think, August of 2011. I love it, it's a great-looking, soft-shooting gun, but I never get to shoot the thing so it's just oiled up sitting in my safe and I'm looking to get a nice shotgun (Citori 725 field) since I shoot that every Sunday at the trap club and I love upland game hunting.

The seller stated that he was hoping to sell it to a fellow Redditor. x---x--x-x received "heavy interest" for the Reddit-themed firearm that he decided he would only sell it to people with whom he could meet face-to-face if there was an offer by Tuesday.

There was.

The seller explained in a further update that he had tentatively accepted an offer from someone who would be able to complete the transaction in person, but if it fell through he said he would work with "one of two out-of-state purchasers using an [federal firearms license] transfer."

(Photo: Imgur via Reddit)

This is where we get to the part where the rifle is referred to as "the most terrifying thing on the Internet," by Gawker.

"Users of the internet culture behemoth Reddit are not famous for their level-headedness or discretion," Gawker's Adrian Chen explains.

"So it was a bit discomfiting to spot this AR15 assault rifle—the same kind of gun used by Newtown shooter Adam Lanza—with a cute little Reddit alien logo engraved into it for sale on the site," he adds.

Redditors, as the gossip site notes, are relatively Libertarian, at least when it comes to the First Amendment. As for its pro-Second Amendment leanings, the site has more than 100,000 followers on the /r/guns subreddit, more than 8,000 for /r/firearms, and /r/progun has more than 6,000.

Even with these firearm-supporting subreddits, there are others who have called for administrators to take a stand against sale of guns on the site.

In a thread nearly a month ago, one Redditor said eight "assault rifles" were sold through the website.

"It is time for reddit to ask itself whether it is morally justifiable for it to continue to allow the sale of guns," the Redditor Gabour wrote.

"Although I’m trying not to resort to hyperbole here, I think it fair to say that reddit has some blood on its hands for endorsing these transactions [emphasis added]," the post continued.

"And that is something that needs to be addressed. Although it may be questionable to some whether Reddit has a moral obligation to stop the proliferation of guns in the United States, there should be no doubt that it should not be directly participating in it."

Many websites where individuals act as sellers and buyers, like Craigslist and eBay, have banned the sale of firearms due to strict regulations regarding their sale.

If the seller of the alien-engraved rifle is unlicensed (we aren't told either way), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives states that if both people are unlicensed individuals within the same state, the firearm can be sold provided the seller "does not know or have reasonable cause to believe the person is prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms under Federal law."

Here's more from the AFT regarding private sales:

When a transaction takes place between private (unlicensed) persons who reside in the same State, the Gun Control Act (GCA) does not require any record keeping. A private person may sell a firearm to another private individual in his or her State of residence and, similarly, a private individual may buy a firearm from another private person who resides in the same State. It is not necessary under Federal law for a Federal firearms licensee (FFL) to assist in the sale or transfer when the buyer and seller are “same-State” residents. Of course, the transferor/seller may not knowingly transfer a firearm to someone who falls within any of the categories of prohibited persons contained in the GCA. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g) and (n). However, as stated above, there are no GCA-required records to be completed by either party to the transfer.

ATF states that if the sale is between two people who reside in different states, then the firearm is shipped to a FFL in the state of the buyer.

Based on this Redditor's post, it appears as if he were following the law regarding his transaction.

Featured image Imgur via Reddit.