Kalashnikov consistently maintained that he designed the AK-47 for the defense of his country and not for offensive purposes. He expressed regret that it had been used for violence and conflict around the world.

In his later years, Kalashnikov reportedly wrote a letter to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, expressing concerns about his responsibility for the deaths caused by the AK-47. This indicated a growing sense of unease and moral reflection.

In numerous interviews, Kalashnikov reiterated his desire for the AK-47 to be used only for defensive purposes and lamented its misuse by terrorists and criminals. He emphasized that he was a soldier, not a killer.