A video showing a New York gun owner cutting his AR-15 rifle in half has gone viral after he says it's time to make a change.
Scott Pappalardo says he's legally owned his AR-15 rifle over the last thirty years, but after the latest school shooting in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead and 15 more injured, he says even selling the rifle isn't good enough.
"What if whoever buys this weapon, their child gets hold of it and brings it to school one day and shoots a bunch of people?" he asks. "Can I live with that? I don't think I could."
Pappalardo says he's enjoyed owning the rifle over the years, but in the wake of recent tragic shootings like Newtown, Las Vegas and now, Parkland, it's time to get rid of the weapon.
âIâll be honest, itâs a lot of fun to shoot,â Pappalardo says of his rifle in the video posted to his Facebook page. âIâve never killed anything with it except a bunch of targets.â
Pappalardo's AR-15 is the same kind of weapon used in last week's school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and he notes it's not the first time it's been used.
âSo when do we change?â he asks while sitting on the deck of his home. âWhen do we make laws that say a weapon like this isnât acceptable in todayâs society? ... Is the right to own this weapon more important than someoneâs life? ... I donât think so.â
He then stands up and takes the AR-15 over to a saw where it cuts it in half.
âIâm going to make sure his weapon will never be able to take a life,â he vows. Pappalardo says he hopes someone see his video and say, âMaybe Iâll do the same thing."
Pappalardo posted a final photo of his rifle cut into three pieces under the label "#oneless."