M14 In The News... Imam Nadim Sulaiman Ali: Just What We Need—More Guns!

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

Imam Nadim Sulaiman Ali: Just What We Need—More Guns!

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The M14 is an . [1, 2, 3]

Overview and History

• Adoption: Officially adopted as the U.S. service rifle in 1959, replacing the M1 Garand.

• Service Life: Used by the U.S. military until it was replaced by the M16 in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

• Role: Remains in limited active use as a designated marksman rifle, sniper platform (such as the M21 and Mk 14 EBR), and for ceremonial purposes. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Technical Specifications

• Caliber: 7.62×51mm NATO (.308 Winchester)

• Action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt

• Overall Length: 44 inches (1,118 mm)

• Barrel Length: 22 inches (559 mm)

• Weight (Unloaded): Approximately 11 lbs (5 kg)

• Feed System: 20-round detachable box magazine

• Rate of Fire: Cyclic rate of 700 to 750 rounds per minute (selective fire: semi-automatic and fully automatic)

• Effective Range: Up to 500–800 yards (460–730 meters depending on optics and use) [1, 2, 3, 4]

Source: AMAC — The Association of Mature American Citizens
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Just What We Need—More Guns!

Imam Nadim Sulaiman Ali

Recently, I came across an article published by the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC), which describes itself as the conservative alternative to AARP. The article enthusiastically announced that more than 100,000 surplus M14 service rifles are expected to become available for sale to American civilians through the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP).

My immediate reaction was: Just what we need—more guns!

The CMP is a federally chartered nonprofit organization whose mission includes firearms safety, marksmanship training and competition. Congress has also authorized it to sell certain surplus military firearms, including M1 Garand rifles and 1911 pistols. The proposed M14 sale, however, would be historic because these rifles were originally manufactured as select-fire military weapons. Before being sold, CMP says they will be permanently and irreversibly modified so that they operate only as semiautomatic firearms. Sales are expected to begin around early 2027.

Those facts should be stated accurately. But accuracy does not eliminate the legitimate questions this decision raises.

America is already saturated with firearms. The widely cited Small Arms Survey estimated approximately 393.3 million civilian-held firearms in the United States in 2017. More recent firearm-industry calculations, using manufacturing, import and other federal data, put the cumulative number above 500 million. The exact number is impossible to determine, but there is little dispute that Americans possess more firearms than people.

So lawmakers and citizens have every right to ask: Why does the civilian population need another 100,000 military-origin rifles? Why now? And what public interest is served by releasing them?

I am particularly concerned about the political environment surrounding this decision. We should remember January 6, 2021, when Americans witnessed an assault on the U.S. Capitol intended to interfere with the constitutional transfer of presidential power. In such a polarized climate, government decisions that expand civilian access to powerful weapons deserve careful congressional and public scrutiny.

I would caution against claiming, without evidence, that President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, or the CMP is deliberately distributing rifles to political supporters or preparing for political violence. Such an allegation requires proof. But demanding transparency is not conspiracy thinking. It is responsible citizenship.

Who authorized this particular transfer? What safeguards will govern sales? What background checks will apply? How will buyers be screened? What measures will prevent trafficking or prohibited persons from ultimately obtaining these weapons?

The CMP may view these rifles as pieces of American military history. Collectors may view them as prized artifacts. Second Amendment advocates may regard their sale as an exercise of constitutional liberty.

But history also teaches another lesson: democracies become vulnerable when political extremism, distrust of institutions and weaponry begin reinforcing one another.

The CMP should not become a Trojan Horse, intentionally or unintentionally, through which an already heavily armed nation becomes even more dangerously armed.

Before 100,000 rifles leave government custody, Congress should ask a very simple question:

What problem are we solving by putting them there?

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

As I read Imam Nadim’s article about the M14, it became very clear to me that I was among a unique group of Marines who had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve during a significant transition in Marine Corps history—the change from the M14 to the M16.

It raises an important question: Why was the M14 replaced after less than twenty years of service? The primary reasons given were that the M16 was considerably lighter, had less recoil, and allowed troops to carry substantially more ammunition, advantages that were considered particularly important during jungle combat in Vietnam.

Having served during this period of transition, I find it troubling to see that America is now considering placing approximately 100,000 of these military rifles into the public sphere. Even if stringent background checks are conducted, there remains a possibility that some of these firearms could eventually fall into the wrong hands.

In my view, there is another option worth serious consideration: destroying all 100,000 rifles rather than transferring them into civilian circulation. Doing so would permanently remove these particular firearms from the pool of weapons available to the public. At the very least, it would eliminate one potential source of gun violence and one problem that could otherwise emerge in the future.

Cpl. Bilal Mahmud U.S.M.C.

RVN Returnee...

[Bilal Mahmud المكافح المخلص]

Kofi Bilal Mahmud Eid AlFitr 1443 A.H.

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