Need to stop using the word weapon. What's more appropriate?

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A few hundred posts ago, some firearms "purists" on this site corrected/educated me when I refered to a handgun as a "burner". I thought it was kinda funny/knit picky :-) Any how......I call handguns "burners".
 
wayneinFL said:
There's too much of an implication that a "weapon" is designed to be used against people. I just can't bring my self to use that term when dealing with a young boy with a pocketknife, a 410, or a 22. That's not what he's supposed to be using it for. And I don't want him getting it in his head that's the purpose for a firearm, a blade or any other tool for that matter.
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Thank you for eloquently stating what I was having trouble formulating.

IMO, we, the firearms community, tend to get very vocal concerning the use of firearms as personal defense weapons, home defense weapons, concealed carry weapons, last ditch weapons against government tyranny and overlook all the other uses of them. And to me, that puts out a bad image to the rest of the public. While, I really could care less what the Huffington Post has to say about me as a gun owner, I certainly care what the mother of Tenderfoot Timmy has to say when he comes home from Boy Scout full of his new found knowledge of how to us a weapon that can kill.
 
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used in order to inflict damage or harm to enemies or other living beings, structures, or systems. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime, law enforcement, and warfare. In a broader context, weapons may be construed to include anything used to gain a strategic, material or mental advantage over an adversary.

From everyones favorite online reference, wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapon

Firearms are weapons. Period.
 
weapon has negative connotations to it which the media love to abuse. I refer to them as rifles, pistols, shotguns or firearms.
 
I have no problem with refering to firearms as weapons. I think dodging the term makes it appear like gun owners are ashamed that their fireARMS are indeed weapons and are trying to obfuscate that fact.



I don't think anyone is buying that line and don't think it does us any favors.



I was taught at a young age that a firearm could be a dangerous weapon and as such demanded a great respect in handling. I can't think of any other tool that is as potentially dangerous to the user and bystanders aside maybe table saws - but the range on them isn't so great.
 
See I have to disagree with you there Brian, I personally prefer platform, but that is me. It has never bothered me. I would rather people stop using the term "sniper rifle". To me it is used more by mall ninjas and such. But we each have our own opinions and that is the way it should be. Firearms are weapons when used as such. Websters defines it as:
1
: something (as a club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy
2
: a means of contending against another

I know people that have firearms for nothing more than target shooting. So they are like a hammer or a knife. It is like saying my steak knife is a weapon. When it really isn't unless it is used as such. A car is a weapon if used so, but not unless it was. The fine line is that firearms are mostly designed to be a weapon. It is all in the intent of the user or operator.
 
I haven't called for us all to masquerade as pheasant hunters cherishing blued steel and walnut stocks.

But this aggressive tacticool mentality has affected the language in our sub culture.

If you like black guns. Awesome. If you want to zip line down the range firing your twin glock 40s at zombie targets...terrific.

But when you're at the gun shop or sporting goods gun counter or here on these forums, YouTube or elsewhere on the ultranet...you're in public. While in public best not to offend/confuse/anger polite society. Not saying hide away your secret gun hobby. But why would you want to portray yourself as hostile? Weapon this. Tactical system that. I was in the military. Where we are trained to commit overwhelmingly aggressive violence. Now im a civilian. Do i retain my right to perform violence if needed? Of course. In a DEFENSIVE role. I had to leave my combat mentality or at least the aggressor part there...along with my weapons. Portray yourself as a pro-2nd amendment target shooter/hunter/right to carry person? Sure!

I suppose my point transcends just the weapon terminology to our overall public image.
 
There are two words that apply to a discussion of whether or not the word "Weapon" applies to "Guns".

1:ESOTERIC

1
a : designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone <a body of esoteric legal doctrine — B. N. Cardozo>
b : requiring or exhibiting knowledge that is restricted to a small group <esoteric terminology>; broadly : difficult to understand <esoteric subjects>
2
a : limited to a small circle <engaging in esoteric pursuits>
b : private, confidential <an esoteric purpose>
3
: of special, rare, or unusual interest <esoteric building materials>


2:CLICHÉ

1
: a trite phrase or expression; also : the idea expressed by it
2
: a hackneyed theme, characterization, or situation
3
: something (as a menu item) that has become overly familiar or commonplace
 
Breakingcontact, I agree whole heartedly.


& Brian, I understand your argument about weapons and guns. I was simply making the point that almost anything can be a weapon, but a firearm isn't always so. It is always in the context of how it is used. The word weapon as used to all firearms does not bother me. I simply substitute other words when in company of people who do not use or own firearms. To be honest, I could care less if I offend them, I just know quickly the word weapon can escalate a conversation or situation.
 
I don't understand that argument.

Imagine if you were to ask THOSE people if a gun is a weapon. How many of them would get "all esoteric" about it like we do?

None?

So what is the effect of changing the word? They still know you're talking about a gun, they know a gun is a weapon, you're not "fooling" anyone by using a different word.

I find it more likely that you would irritate them. It's almost like we think they're stupid. Like if we call a puppy a kitten they'll believe it's a kitten.

Besides, what would be the context where you're talking about guns in the presence of "anti-gun people" and you'd be using the word weapon where something like "platform" would be better. I don't know what that conversation would be.

Anti-gun people don't know our lingo (hence the esoteric nature of this discussion), they know the basics. The "thing" is a gun, weapon, pistol, Saturday Night Special, heck, every handgun might be an "AK" in their world, but they sure as hell know it's a "weapon". I surely can't see any benefit of trying to make like it isn't.

None of which particularly matters IMO, as I fall back to the concept that if a gun is not a weapon unless it's used as such then a car is not a vehicle unless it's moving. Neither of those arguments holds any water with me.
 
Its The Right to Keep and Bear Arms, not the Right to Keep and Bear cute non-Threatening target thingys, that mean people could potentially use as weapons.

The Supreme Court ruled that the right to keep firearms in the home for defense was at the heart of the second amendment. Weapons are used for defense.

Firearms are deadly weapons, even skeet guns and target range .22s. Accept it, embrace it, quit trying to sugar coat it.

We even had at least one thread about firearms being dangerous. They're also dangerous, not just from accidents, or carelessness. Or dangerous as in faulty, etc. Weapons are supposed to be dangerous, designed to be dangerous, or else they wouldn't be worth a flip. Show me a non-dangerous, purpose built deadly weapon and I'll show you a design failure. :)
 
I believe firearm is as pc as it gets without getting into the bending to suit your needs category.

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Brian, did I ever use the word "anti"? No. I said non firearm owners. These are family members and friends that do not own them. They have never expressed any irritation mainly because they don't take it personally. They understand that I no longer use a firearm to kill, and only for targets and training others. As I stated it is my OPINION, as your statement is yours. Neither are right or wrong, but only opinions. So please know I am not arguing with you nor trying to sway you, I simply answered the OP question with my opinion as asked. My point about the rifles are as I own a couple benchrest rifles, they are target rifles not hunting. So as to say when I assembled them, they were not created to do anything other than that. So IMO, they are not weapons. That was all I was saying. I am no more right or wrong about my statements than you about yours.
 
Its The Right to Keep and Bear Arms, not the Right to Keep and Bear cute non-Threatening target thingys, that mean people could potentially use as weapons.

The Supreme Court ruled that the right to keep firearms in the home for defense was at the heart of the second amendment. Weapons are used for defense.

Firearms are deadly weapons, even skeet guns and target range .22s. Accept it, embrace it, quit trying to sugar coat it.

We even had at least one thread about firearms being dangerous. They're also dangerous, not just from accidents, or carelessness. Or dangerous as in faulty, etc. Weapons are supposed to be dangerous, designed to be dangerous, or else they wouldn't be worth a flip. Show me a non-dangerous, purpose built deadly weapon and I'll show you a design failure.
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nate45 that is a clear and concise statement of how I feel. Thank you. With all due respect to the fine institution, if Boy Scouts can get merit badges for use of firearms without understanding the above, we have failed to tell them the whole story. I also do not understand the notion that accepting and even insisting that guns are weapons somehow makes me hostile. I am not. I understand that firearms are used for many different purposes. There is inherent danger in every one of them, and it does not change the nature of the firearm/weapon.

There are many things that make me cringe about how some of us portray firearms and the use of them. Owning, using and carrying weapons is a serious responsibility that requires maturity and training or we metaphorically (and sometimes literally) shoot ourselves in the foot. How we conduct ourselves as gun enthusiasts is important, but denying that guns are weapons helps no one IMO.
 
Does an 11 year old really need to be burdened with the thoughts of "when the boogey men come me and Old Blue will fight them off?" And if so, is it my job as a simple rifle instructor who interacts with them for, at most six hours over the course of a week to impart that on them?

It's the Rifle Merit Badge, not the Self Defense/Civil Rights Merit Badge.

I think I do far more for our cause by provididing a safe, fun learning enviroment where the kid can learn the safety basics, fling some lead down range, and go home with a patch. n
 
Remember Steve Martin in the "Jerk"

I think I'll call it "Purpose". Definition: Intention, meaning , aim
 
I think I do far more for our cause by provididing a safe, fun learning enviroment where the kid can learn the safety basics, fling some lead down range, and go home with a patch. n
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SPEMac618 doing the above is an honorable job, and I thank you for it. The 11 year old does not need to understand all the implications of gun use. He does need to understand that unless used properly every time the consequences can be deadly. Using a weapon is a serious business at any age.
 
breakingcontact said:
I see the YouTube celebrities referring to every firearm as a weapon and it makes me cringe.

Now, if you're a wingshooter or something, don't come after me, I know you don't call your fancy shotgun a "weapon".

We need to control the language to put out a better public image.

What should we always call firearms? Call them just that "firearms", guns? Call it what it is, rifle/pistol/shotgun?

I like "defensive firearm". Think of it as the opposite of "assault rifle". The media pounded on the term assault rifle and altered the meaning and perception. They controlled the language.

Imagine if we always described a weapon...er...a firearm...in a language "positive" way. If we tie the word defense to the word gun or firearm, that would be golden.
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Call it a "killer" instead. It's only being accurate. The word police can join the thought police on a trip to Hell.
 
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