The abbreviation "AR" in "AR-15" stands for "ArmaLite Rifle," named after the company ArmaLite that originally developed the rifle in the 1950s. It does not stand for "assault rifle" or "automatic rifle," which is a common misconception
. The AR-15 was designed by Eugene Stoner as a lightweight, semi-automatic rifle and is related to the military M16 rifle. The term "AR" reflects the manufacturer, not the function or type of the firearm
