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My hang-up on weapons :-(
Rafter-S
Member Posts: 2,173 ✭✭✭✭✭
Why do we always have a few among us who refer to their firearms as "weapons"?
We try our best to come across to John Q public as sportsmen and firearms enthusiests...or at least most of us do. But those who refer to their rifles, pistols and shotguns as "weapons" in the threads must not realize how negative that word sounds to people who don't share our enthusiasm.
Firearms are for enthusiests--weapons are for gang members and thugs.
Am I the only one with this hang-up on termonology? Or am I being too sensitive to care what non-gun people think about us?
Rafter-S
We try our best to come across to John Q public as sportsmen and firearms enthusiests...or at least most of us do. But those who refer to their rifles, pistols and shotguns as "weapons" in the threads must not realize how negative that word sounds to people who don't share our enthusiasm.
Firearms are for enthusiests--weapons are for gang members and thugs.
Am I the only one with this hang-up on termonology? Or am I being too sensitive to care what non-gun people think about us?
Rafter-S
Comments
Your not the only one. I agree completely. There are way to many "little" things we can all do to take away the small niches it gives to the non-gun owning society.
Story time. last year while shooting bows at a friends house I met a gentlemen that works with my friend. He was an older man and was shooting a crossbow at that time. He and I spoke a little about squirrel hunting and so on. Then he inquired about my compound bow and how much he liked it. His first question to me about my bow was: "Have you ever used your bow out of anger?" I was totally confused and asked him what exactly he meant by that question. He told he meant shooting a deer, I argued a bit, blew out some comments about it being no wonder people get the wrong impressions about hunters and neglected to shoot in that guys group the rest of the afternoon. It is beyond me of how any hunter is out a field hunting game because they are "mad" at it.??? Come on everyone, we're sportsman, talk to people take them hunting and teach them how a true gun owner and hunter acts.
"A pocket knife, a clean hankey, and a pistol... things I can use." - Ted Nugent
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." -- Sigmund Freud, General Introduction to Psychoanalysis
Anyway, what gets me is when the news is on reporting about a stabbing or some other crime unrelated to guns, the local station always has a picture of a pistol in the background....I used to shoot off an email or two when I saw this but it didn't do any good. [:(!][:(!]
A dead intruder cannot testify against you in a court of law!
If they're still moving, put another round in them!
Even a home defense gun could be considered a "weapon" insofar as an anti-aircraft gun is considered a "defensive weapon," but you're right in stating that the word has connotations that go above and beyond the dictionary definition.
The military folks among us can tell you why. They have all been trained to refer to their firearms as "weapons". It's a part of their training.
Just a few I've learned around here:
Magazine....not a clip
Ship....not a boat
Weapon....not a gun
and many more....
Notice I said "gun".I would,however,like to get into the habit of calling them "firearms" just because it sounds more professional.
At least to me it does.Gotta work on that.
BW
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.
Sorry it bothers you, but they ARE weapons.
God Bless America and...
NEVER Forget WACO
NEVER, EVER Forget 911
These are the online definitions of weapon:
1.An instrument of attack or defense in combat, as a gun, missile, or sword.
2.Zoology. A part or organ, such as a claw or stinger, used by an animal in attack or defense.
3.A means used to defend against or defeat another: Logic was her weapon.
These are the online definitions of gun:
1.A weapon consisting of a metal tube from which a projectile is fired at high velocity into a relatively flat trajectory.
2.A cannon with a long barrel and a relatively low angle of fire.
3.A portable firearm, such as a rifle or revolver.
4.A device resembling a firearm or cannon, as in its ability to project something, such as grease, under pressure or at great speed.
5.A discharge of a firearm or cannon as a signal or salute.
One, such as a hunter, who carries or uses a gun.
A person skilled in the use of a gun.
A professional killer: a hired gun.
6.The throttle of an engine, as of an automobile.
Rafter I almost always find myself agreeing with your points of view. But I believe this is just semantics. Military people will almost always refer to firearms as weapons. Its trained in. Weapon is actually a rather innocuous term as compared to "gun". Weapon can refer to anything from a rock to a howitzer. Gun leaves no doubt what you are refering to. Some of us are just stuck in our ways. Guns will always be weapons to me, pistols will always be sidearms, guys with ear rings, sandals, and pinks shirts in convertible cars will always be fruitcakes. What a crazy world, at least we are all on the same side here, right?
James
Whats next? A ban on automatic transmissions?
Woods
"I dont care how thin you make a pancake, it still has two sides"
"A wise man is a man that realizes just how little he knows.
It is correct in calling a THING by a name of its intended use.
Some things assume the name after they been used. IE "The weapon was an oversized ashtray"[:o)][:o)]
"I dont care how thin you make a pancake, it still has two sides"
"A wise man is a man that realizes just how little he knows.
Being in the USMC, the "w" word was beat into me and you need to talk to my old drill instructor if you have a problem with it! [:0]
I may not love my "w"'s, but I have been known to foundle them every once in a while, you could say I'm quite fond of them!
Walte
It is correct in calling a THING by a name of its intended use.
The nomenclature of military service rifles typically contain the descriptor shoulder weapon. No matter that honor guards and Camp Perry shooters may use the same THING for their own purposes, most military rifles are specifically designed as weapons. And while a skeet gun or Winchester 52 target rifle may indeed be used as a weapon, the purpose for which they are intended is different from that of the M16. The difference in use between a skeet gun used to shoot an assailant is no greater than that of a Louisville Slugger used as a blunt instrument in an ADW.
"I dont care how thin you make a pancake, it still has two sides"
"A wise man is a man that realizes just how little he knows.
In the early 60's I took my "weapon" and finished off a wounded, but still mobile and angry 'buff' that fed the vill for quite a few days. Then I took my "weapon" and used it to try and stay alive another day!
Terminology used is often the product of the environment where it is learned, and once learned it is a little hard to break the habit so one can be politically sensitive.
The "anti's" don't even hear the word your saying, they are too busy thinkin of their next line of "bs".
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
Classic: in VA it is a CHP (Concealed Handgun Permit).
AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY
Would 'projectile launching platform' be more appropriate?
If so, how do I distinguish reference to my Johnson from my 1941 Johnson?
AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY
Solid projectile launching platform...
...my colon from my 1941 Johnson?
I'm gonna have to write this one down in my diary.
"If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."
Margaret Thatcher
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Mark Twain
In my state the exact term is, "Concealed Handgun License" or CHL. The state rep who introduced the bill called it that for political reasons, and got it passed when other states were still trying.
Guys, do as you wish on termonology. I thought it be best not to support the anti's by echoing their negative descriptions. That's just plain stupid.
Rafter-S
But then your colon wouldn't be launching it from your Johnson!
AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY
Steve
Fight Crime, Shoot First
As I recall the chant, "This is my rifle, this is my gun. This is for fighting, this is for fun."
With us, only the exact description better be used. And the exact description was, "rifle."
Of course, that was a loooong time ago.
Rafter-S
Steve
Fight Crime, Shoot First
Guns
weapons
gats
pea shooters
equalizers
What the heck is the difference what amyone calls em
"I dont care how thin you make a pancake, it still has two sides"
"A wise man is a man that realizes just how little he knows.
"Right is Right, even is everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it"
If Canada ever allows me to own a M60 Machine Gun, then I will call it a Machine Gun. Again case closed.
A weapon is what ever you are using against someone else. Whether to attack or defend is unimportant. It is the use that defines if a object, hangun, baseball bat, knife etc, is a weapon.
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
This topic should have been locked immediately after the above....
Mateomasfeo
"I am what I am!" - Popeye
The "anti's" don't even hear the word your saying, they are too busy thinkin of their next line of "bs".
Yes the anti's don't hear our words but the silver hair folks do and they vote. They see weapons as unnecessary in our society. You might can sell them on firearms for sportsmen but not weapons for rednecks. I think Rafter made a reasonable point. We may not care what the anti's think but we should care about others. Keeping our guns depends on it.
http://www.awbansunset.com/
NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
Rafter-S
Your not the only one. I agree completely. There are way to many "little" things we can all do to take away the small niches it gives to the non-gun owning society.
Story time. last year while shooting bows at a friends house I met a gentlemen that works with my friend. He was an older man and was shooting a crossbow at that time. He and I spoke a little about squirrel hunting and so on. Then he inquired about my compound bow and how much he liked it. His first question to me about my bow was: "Have you ever used your bow out of anger?" I was totally confused and asked him what exactly he meant by that question. He told he meant shooting a deer, I argued a bit, blew out some comments about it being no wonder people get the wrong impressions about hunters and neglected to shoot in that guys group the rest of the afternoon. It is beyond me of how any hunter is out a field hunting game because they are "mad" at it.??? Come on everyone, we're sportsman, talk to people take them hunting and teach them how a true gun owner and hunter acts.
"A pocket knife, a clean hankey, and a pistol... things I can use." - Ted Nugent
[:D] [:D] A few more STUPID QUESTIONS like that one and I'd have told him there is always a first time so zip it.....where do comments that that come from?? [xx(]
American used to Roar like Lions for Liberty- Now they Bleat like Sheep for Security.
Always Remember Security without Liberty is called PRISON! -
What kind of idiots do you think we are??
benzapped - your liable to "get zapped" by one of us "silver hair folks"!! Who have done our share of zip/zapping.
God Bless America and...
NEVER Forget WACO
NEVER, EVER Forget 911
What kind of idiots do you think we are??
benzapped - your liable to "get zapped" by one of us "silver hair folks"!! Who have done our share of zip/zapping.
God Bless America and...
NEVER Forget WACO
NEVER, EVER Forget 911