PSALMS 47 VERSUS AK-47

According to encyclopedia, the AK-47 (also called Automatic Kalashnikov) was developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1944. Two years later, the rifle was presented for official military trials, and in 1947, the fixed stock version was introduced into service with select units of the Red Army (the folding stock model was developed later).

It was one of the first true assault rifles, and due to its durability, low production cost and ease of use, remains the most widely used assault rifle in the world; so much so that more AK-type rifles have been produced than all other assault rifles combined.

This is why the AK-47 became the jihadi terrorist weapon of choice: In the early years after 9/11 the suicide belt, the car bomb and the homemade explosive device were the weapons of choice for jihadis: hidden, brutal and hard to counter.

But as 2015 heaves to a close, its atrocities littered across the calendar – Charlie Hebdo, Sousse, Garissa, Tunis, Copenhagen and Paris – it is the AK-47 that has come to the fore.

Across Europe more terrorist attacks have been carried out with Kalashnikov-type assault rifles this year than with any other device. In the 13 November Paris attacks, suicide bombers killed few but gunmen killed many. Further afield, in Tunisia and Kenya, it was also automatic weapons that did the damage.

Now, here is the point, the bullets of AK-47 are "Ratata...! Boom... boom...!" Hope you can relate? No wonder action movie stars do make use of it. It causes destruction in a twinkle, unlike common pistol.

A good example is the movie, "Lord of War" (2005), played by Nicolas Cage as Yuri Orlov, which happens to have a heavy focus on this rifle. During the opening credits, you get to see the production of a 7.62x39mm round which ends up being used by an AK-47 during a war in Africa.

But then, hold on for a while and let's see Psalms 47.