On a hot Saturday afternoon that will long be remembered, a shooter targeted former President Donald Trump using a DPMS Panther Arms AR-15-style rifle, raising critical discussions about gun control and the ongoing debate over the AR-15 platform.
This rifle, reportedly acquired by the shooter’s father over a decade ago, has drawn significant attention due to its connection to Palmetto State Armory, a brand Trump visited during a 2023 campaign stop.
During that visit, Trump was photographed admiring a Glock with his face engraved on the grip. Although reports initially suggested that Trump had purchased the firearm, a spokesman later clarified that the transaction was never completed — likely because it would have been illegal, given that Trump was under indictment at the time.
The rifle used in the Trump shooting is currently being evaluated by the FBI, with emerging details slowly painting a clearer picture of the events leading up to the attack. What I personally find astounding is that two months after the shooting, we still don’t have an image of the weapon released to the public. Although there has been a great deal of speculation, we don’t know if the shooter, Thomas Crooks, used iron sights, a red dot, or a scope. Why withhold this information from the public?
The Rifle and Shooter’s Preparations
Federal officials investigating the shooting described the DPMS (Defense Procurement Manufacturing Services) AR-15-style rifle as “nothing special,” noting that these rifles have become so common that they now share a standard appearance and performance characteristics.
The rifle has a typical muzzle velocity of around 2,800 feet per second — nearly three times the speed of sound, causing bullets to produce a snapping sound or miniature sonic booms as they travel.
These rifles are approximately 32 inches long, including the stock, and weigh about 6.8 pounds.
The term “AR” originally stood for “ArmaLite Rifle,” named after the company that developed the platform in the 1950s for military use. Colt later purchased the patents for the AR-15, which have since expired, leading to widespread production of AR-style rifles by various manufacturers in different calibers.
Reports indicate that the shooter had visited a local weapons range multiple times in the weeks leading up to the attack.
Range logs show that he practiced diligently, honing his skills at various distances, including the 150-yard range where the attack on Trump took place.
Guy McCardle, a 16-year US Army veteran and SOFREP Managing Editor, commented on the shooting, saying:
“It’s a miracle that the shooter missed; 150 yards is a relatively short distance, equivalent to shooting the broad side of a barn for someone with adequate training.”
No photos of the gun used in the Trump shooting have been publicly released, likely due to the ongoing investigation by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
Government officials say that releasing such images could compromise the investigation or legal proceedings, and authorities may be withholding images to maintain the integrity of the case. Additionally, there are concerns that making the gun’s image public could pose security risks or inspire copycat incidents. I don’t see how this can be the case. They told us what kind of weapon it is, and anyone with a computer can look it up in a matter of seconds.
A History of DPMS and AR-15 Ownership
DPMS, which stands for Defense Procurement Manufacturing Services, was founded in 1985 by Randy Luth. Originally a defense contractor, DPMS quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality AR-15 parts. Eventually, the company developed its own line of firearms under the Panther Arms brand, which is known for its reliability and affordability.
Over time, DPMS experienced significant changes in ownership, each chapter adding a new layer to the brand’s story. In 2007, Randy Luth sold DPMS to Freedom Group, a consortium of firearms manufacturers owned by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management.
Freedom Group later merged with Remington Outdoor Company, creating a powerhouse in the firearms industry. However, this success was short-lived; Remington eventually faced bankruptcy, largely due to lawsuits related to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012.
In 2020, amid Remington’s bankruptcy auction, DPMS was acquired by JJE Capital Holdings, a company owned by Jamin McCallum. JJE Capital is also the parent company of Palmetto State Armory, a brand well-known for its affordable firearms and accessories.
The Shooter’s Choice of Rifle and Its Implications
The DPMS AR-15 is generally not considered an ideal choice for long-range precision shooting, especially at distances beyond 200 yards.
In the case of the Trump shooting, the gunman was perched on a rooftop approximately 150 yards away from the podium where Trump was speaking. This distance is well within the effective range of a 5.56mm AR-15 in the rifle’s standard configuration.
Former Navy SEAL sniper Brandon Webb weighed in on the incident, noting that a well-trained shooter could achieve a high level of accuracy at 150 yards, especially if the weapon was equipped with an ACOG scope. We note again that we don’t know what kind of optics, if any, Crook’s rifle had.
Webb commented in his after-action report:
“At 200 yards, anyone trained on a rifle can shoot a golf ball repeatedly, and a trained sniper knows this is an easy headshot, a tap-in golf putt, especially with an ACOG.”
His remarks highlight the importance of training and experience when it comes to achieving accuracy with any firearm, regardless of its make or model.
Legal and Regulatory Challenges
The DPMS AR-15, like many AR-15 variants, is subject to legal restrictions in several states. For years, Democrats in states like Colorado and Illinois have attempted to ban semi-automatic rifles, including DPMS models, arguing that these firearms pose a significant risk to public safety.
The Illinois assault weapons ban, for instance, specifically names DPMS rifles, and the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the state’s right to enforce this ban.
In addition to state-level restrictions, federal efforts to regulate AR-15s have also been a source of ongoing debate. The 1994 federal assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004, sought to limit the availability of semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15.
However, the ban’s expiration has led to a resurgence in the popularity of these rifles, and they are now one of the most common firearms in the United States.
The Fallout from the Trump Shooting
The attempted assassination of former President Trump using a DPMS AR-15-style rifle has reignited the national debate over gun control and the role of firearms in American society. As details about the rifle and the shooter’s motivations continue to emerge, there will likely be increased scrutiny of the AR-15 platform and its availability to the public.
For now, the legacy of the AR-15 remains as complex and controversial as ever. At the same time, many Americans view it as a symbol of personal freedom and self-reliance. The misinformed see it as a weapon of war.
The Trump shooting, like so many other incidents before it, serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges our country faces in balancing the right to bear arms with the need to protect public safety.
As I’ve said many, many times before, “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people.” That fact is driven home humorously in the following clip from “American Dad.”
Moving Forward
The DPMS AR-15 rifle used in the attempted assassination of former President Trump highlights the ongoing debate surrounding AR-15-style weapons in the United States, but that should not be where our focus lies. We need to figure out why a 20-year-old with no military experience was able to get a rooftop shot off at a former president at close range. This is a Secret Service problem, not a gun problem, and until the Secret Service problem is fixed, its protectees will most likely not be sleeping soundly at night.
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Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.
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