By all accounts the AR-15 is fun to shoot if you like to shoot. Way way back, I remember my friend's Mini-15 was fun to shoot. Of course, I think the real appeal is what the AR-15 has come to
mean, in your case maybe "family and tradition," or very commonly "freedom made tangible (and expensive)" or "my fears shall be no more" or "fear me!" or "power to people like us!" or any number of such expressions. (I won't say "rednecks rule"....)
