logo
Brief Publisher Logo
FACT BRIEF

Was the Maine mass shooting the first in the US in 2023 done with an AR-15-style rifle?

By Tom Kertscher
View this fact brief on Wisconsin Watch
Copy link
email
Copy featured image
email
NO

Five mass shootings with AR-15-style rifles preceded the Maine mass shooting in 2023.

According to Mother Jones’ database, AR-15-style rifles were used in these mass shootings:

Dollar Store in Jacksonville, Florida, on Aug. 26 (three fatalities).

Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood on July 3 (five fatalities).

Farmington, New Mexico, neighborhood on May 15 (three fatalities).

Shopping mall in Allen, Texas, on May 6 (eight fatalities).

Louisville, Kentucky, bank on April 10 (five fatalities).

The shooting in Lewiston, Maine, occurred Oct. 25. A gunman using a semiautomatic assault rifle-style weapon killed 18 people and wounded 13.

A semiautomatic rifle requires a separate pull of the trigger to fire each cartridge. The AR-15 is a semiautomatic rifle intended for military use.

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, reversed his position and said after the Maine shootings he supports a ban on assault-style rifles. President Joe Biden repeated his call for legislation banning such weapons.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Mother Jones US Mass Shootings, 1982–2023: Data From Mother Jones’ Investigation
NBC News At least 18 killed in shootings in Lewiston: What we know so far
U.S. Dept. of Justice 27 CFR § 478.11
The Trace What Is an AR-15 Rifle, Exactly?
NBC News Maine Democrat calls his earlier opposition to an assault weapons ban a mistake after Lewiston shootings
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Wisconsin Watch
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
FACT BRIEF BY
Brief Publisher Logo
Latest fact briefs from Wisconsin Watch
facebook
twitter
email
email
About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.