Top Democrats are going after the maker of an assault-style rifle designed for children, saying the company might be illegally marketing to youngsters and helping to propagate a “culture of chaos” that values profits over lives.
New scrutiny of the JR-15 — a smaller and lighter version of the notorious AR-15, which is itself a civilian version of a military machinegun — comes as the US reels from yet another string of mass shootings, including three in California this week.
Democratic senators on Thursday held a news conference to say that Chicago-based Wee1 Tactical, maker of the JR-15, may be breaking rules that prevent the marketing of firearms to children.
“The last thing we need to be doing is reducing in size these deadly weapons of war and then marketing them to children,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
“We must stop the raining of bullets across the nation and stop this horrible marketing campaign — not only so it stops, but so that others don't do it.”
In a statement, Wee1 told The National that the JR-15 is a “youth training rifle” for “adults who wish to supervise the safe introduction of hunting and shooting sports to the next generation of responsible gun owners”.
The company said its guns had a patented safety lock that “provides an added level of safety available on no other rifle in production”.
Wee1's website shows an image of what appears to be a child taking aim with a JR-15 while an adult assists. The gun maker says in a flyer that a special safety mechanism “puts the adult in control”.
The gun is a .22-calibre semi-automatic rifle that is light in weight and “geared towards smaller enthusiasts” or a “younger enthusiast”, the company says.
“This JR-15 is marketed as a kid-friendly version of the weapon of choice used in so many mass shootings,” Senator Ed Markey said.
Senator Alex Padilla, whose home state of California this week was the scene of mass shootings in Monterey Park near Los Angeles, Half Moon Bay near San Francisco and Oakland, said gun makers are “shamelessly pushing these weapons of war on our children”.
“They are propagating a culture of chaos and fear where Americans lives are worth less than the profits they can make from a JR-15,” Mr Padilla said.
Loose laws
In America, federal law prevents anyone under the age of 18 from buying guns. State laws vary, but in many cases parents are free to buy weapons for their children, as long as the guns are secured properly.
In a country with more guns than people, children frequently get their hands on sloppily stored firearms, often with devastating consequences.
This month, a six-year-old first grader shot and seriously wounded a schoolteacher, and reports of children as young as three or four accidentally shooting a parent or sibling are common.
Senator Richard Blumenthal said gun makers often market to children in the same way tobacco companies once did through, for example, the cigarette-puffing Joe Camel advertising mascot.
“The firearms industry has taken a page from Big Tobacco's book. In fact, they've taken the whole book, marketing to kids — that's where the money is,” Mr Blumenthal said.
Senators said they had asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Wee1 Tactical was breaking any “laws and regulations”.
Democrats have been trying to tighten America's notoriously lax gun laws for decades as firearm ownership and deaths have soared.
Republicans have, for the most part, blocked any meaningful reform, saying new measures would infringe on the US Constitution's Second Amendment, which grants people the right to bear arms.
Still, Congress did pass some new gun control laws last year following back-to-back mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, in which more than 30 people, including 19 children, were killed.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Age: 46
Number of Children: Four
Hobby: Reading history books
Loves: Sports
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEdited%20by%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Idries%20Trevathan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20240%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hirmer%20Publishers%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Super Saturday race card
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Freezer tips
- Always make sure food is completely cool before freezing.
- If you’re cooking in large batches, divide into either family-sized or individual portions to freeze.
- Ensure the food is well wrapped in foil or cling film. Even better, store in fully sealable, labelled containers or zip-lock freezer bags.
- The easiest and safest way to defrost items such as the stews and sauces mentioned is to do so in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Key fixtures from January 5-7
Watford v Bristol City
Liverpool v Everton
Brighton v Crystal Palace
Bournemouth v AFC Fylde or Wigan
Coventry v Stoke City
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Manchester United v Derby
Forest Green or Exeter v West Brom
Tottenham v AFC Wimbledon
Fleetwood or Hereford v Leicester City
Manchester City v Burnley
Shrewsbury v West Ham United
Wolves v Swansea City
Newcastle United v Luton Town
Fulham v Southampton
Norwich City v Chelsea
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
