"Firearm" Instead Of "Weapon"

[doc540]

Most anti-gunners equate all firearms with "weapons".

I'm working on my vocabulary

Many pro-gun people use the term "weapon" without a second thought.

I'm retraining myself to be conscious of using the term "firearm" instead.

Several of the guns I own are never thought of as weapons since I just enjoy the shooting sports with them (like my Model 41).

Some I do intend for defensive purposes, while others are just collectibles and family heirlooms.

Words have power and can make a difference.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Good post! It's only a weapon if you use it that way. I have a hammer out in the garage. If I hit you in the head with it, it's now a weapon.

 

[chud333]

All due respects but I couldn't care
what the antis think.......

Chuck

 

[doc540]

All due respects but I couldn't care
what the antis think.......

Chuck

I focus on those who aren't necessarily anti's, but inexperienced, unfamiliar or "on-the-fence" about firearms.

Bringing them into the sport or, at least, steering them away from becoming anti-gun will be more helpful in insuring both our future right to bear arms and expanding our voter base.

 

[doc540]

I don't either think of or use all of my firearms as weapons.

Neither do I either think of or use all the knives in my house as kitchen tools.

I think we need to influence in any and all ways possible the opinions of the millions of people who are neither pro nor anti gun.

Rather than hunkering down in my close-minded bunker, I want to build a positive future for the expansion of both the right to bear arms and the number of new people enjoying the shooting sports.

 

[dougb1946]

Read "1984" by George Orwell. Focus on "newspeak".

 

[doc540]

Read "1984" by George Orwell. Focus on "newspeak".

cryptic message received

Read John Boyd - Strategic OODA Loop

 

[jlrhiner]

I'm the weapon. Everything else is a tool.

 

[M29since14]

I focus on those who aren't necessarily anti's, but inexperienced, unfamiliar or "on-the-fence" about firearms.

Bringing them into the sport or, at least, steering them away from becoming anti-gun will be more helpful in insuring both our future right to bear arms and expanding our voter base.

You have a good point and to the extent that some people are way more sensitive about words than I was brought up to be, I think you are correct.

Every firearm I own is a weapon first and foremost, to me, but I would not say that to people who seem to be more comfortable thinking of my skeet gun as just another set of golf clubs, of a different type. If that makes them happy, I wouldn't want to change their minds. I'd encourage it, to a certain extent.

 

[Fat Old Guy]

In the gun community, I've generally found that people who insist on calling any gun a weapon are those who are trying to appear as if they have a military background or, if they do have such a background, make themselves appear as if they are Sgt. York and Audie Murphy rolled into one.

It is rather comical to watch an overweight Scouter at Cub Scout camp BB gun range tell a group of Webelos Scouts to keep their "weapons" pointed down range. Interestingly, I spent a week at Scout camp with a group of retired Army Rangers and they all called the .22s at the rifle range "guns." I guess that they weren't trying to convince anyone of anything.

 

[Sebago Son]

I am sooooo PC.... I use Gat, Shooter, Heater, Roscoe, or Equalizer.

 

[hatt]

I am sooooo PC.... I use Gat, Shooter, Heater, Roscoe, or Equalizer.

I like "heater" too.

It doesn't matter what you call em. Anti-gun folks aren't going to want you to have any. If you really want them to like you start calling your guns long range paper punch pellet delivery devices.

 

[doc540]

"LR3P2D's"
I like that!

 

[Lew Archer]

Refer to the gun as an instrument of self determination.

In all seriousness, and with a slight thread drift, many people with anti-gun rights views are pro-choice. If so, they probably see themselves as valuing self determination and privacy--after all, the Court in Roe v. Wade based its decision on a right of privacy in matters of self determination.

Well, the Roe rational applies equally to self defense and related issues, including guns and the 2nd Amendment.

When discussing the gun issue with those who are hostile to gun rights issues, I have made more headway when I have talked about the subject in terms of privacy and self determination then when I have advocated the relevance and importance of the Second Amendment.

 

[M29since14]

When discussing the gun issue with those who are hostile to gun rights issues, I have made more headway when I have talked about the subject in terms of privacy and self determination then when I have advocated the relevance and importance of the Second Amendment.

That's interesting. I am not sure how one could make a persuasive argument to the hostiles based on that, but maybe it is the sort of logic that appeals to them. It sounds counterproductive to me, but I am usually wrong whenever I try to predict how/why the antis think.

 

[Coldshooter]

The state of Alaska Hunter Education booth has an electronic shooting booth. At public events they are very careful not to sat weapons but say training guns or simulators. I guess that keeps the hairy armpit birkenstock sandalistas happy. I have never had anyone complain about the booth when I volunteered though because they are careful about stressing safety. I sometimes think some antis hate safety training as they loose their favorite scare tactics.

 

[Hillbilly77]

I prefer the word firearms.
If I rob a gas station or murder somebody with my guns, then go ahead and call them "weapons". Until then, they are firearms.

 

[BaldEagle1313]

The one term I have issue with is "high capacity magazine". My Model 910 was designed for a 15 round mag, so a 15 round mag is a standard capacity magazine. The ten-round mag should be the one with the modifier, and call it a reduced capacity magazine.

 

[2152hq]

I don't think I've ever called them 'weapons'. Just never caught on with me.
I've worked in and stop in to gunshops. I've worked for gun companys. I read gun magazines (sometimes!)
I repair, restore, engrave, firearms and yes guns.
I know it's just a choice of words, and every one is free to choose.

The 'weapon' thing is more of a legal term to me. As some have stated,,it's only a weapon if used as one.,,and those GI-Joe types,,well everything's a weapon or tacti-cool to them.

 

[LTC]

Any tool or item actually used to injure someone or thing could be considered a weapon. Chainsaw, ax and shovel come to mind.

Like my chainsaw, any one of my firearms could be a weapon if I needed to use it as such.

LTC