"The legendary AK-47 rifle was created to defend the homeland."

Russian media reported on January 13th that legendary gun designer Mikhail Kalashnikov wrote a letter to the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church shortly before his death, expressing his remorse that he might have been at fault for the lives taken by the AK-47.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Kalkashnikov at a military funeral home in Moscow in December 2013. Photo: RIA

"My emotional pain is unbearable. I often ask myself the same unanswered question: if my gun takes someone else's life, am I responsible for their death, even if they are my enemy?" he asked in his letter.

The letter, drafted on Kalashnikov's personal typewriter, was reprinted in the Izvestia newspaper. Below the letter was Kalashnikov's signature, written with trembling hands. He referred to himself as "a slave of God, designer Mikhail Kalashnikov."

Kalashnikov designed the durable and simple AK-47 rifle in 1947 (hence the name), after seeing the Red Army facing weapons shortages during World War II.

The AK-47 is now being illegally manufactured all over the world, becoming a symbol associated with armed insurgency movements.

Kalashnikov wrote in the letter that he only went to church at the age of 91 and had been baptized.

Alexander Volkov, press secretary to Patriarch Kirill, told Izvestia that the Russian Church leader had received the letter and personally written a reply.

"The Church has a very clear position: when weapons are used to defend the Fatherland, the Church supports both the creators and the soldiers who use them," Volkov said. "He designed this gun to defend his homeland, not for terrorists."

Kalashnikov was awarded the title of Hero of the Socialist Soviet Union. Photo: AFP

Mikhail Timofeevich Kalashnikov was born on November 10, 1919, in the village of Kurya, Altay Region. For his outstanding contributions to Russia in the defense of the Fatherland, he was awarded the title of Hero of Russia and twice awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor of the Soviet Union.

At his state funeral, Russian President Vladimir Putin personally attended and placed red roses on the coffin of the father of the legendary rifle.

According to Vietnam+