Haha! I would have to be pretty passionate to shoot someone for murdering the AR15 platform! LOL!
Personally, if I had to carry a weapon that heavy (9+ pounds), it would be my HK G3 clone (US made PTR91) with a 3x9 Redfield Revenge scope with BDC. That setup tips the scale at 9 pounds, IIRC, but will do 600-800 meters
I agree with the optic. On the flat top M4gery I am going to replace with the 653, I have a Bushnell TRS-32 red dot. The whole weapon still goes at about 6.7 pounds.