Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting firearm vs. weapon

[AMink]

So this is kind of a pet peeve of mine and I'm interested in what others think.



When I hear someone call their firearm a "weapon", it makes me cringe. Call it a gun, a rifle, a pistol, revolver, tool, whatever. I oversee a shooting facility in my job and when I run the line occasionally, I make a concerted effort to say "firearm" when giving the commands. I know our range master does the same.



I think by calling them "weapons", we play into the hands of the anti-gunners. Granted, if you have to shoot someone, it is then a "weapon". Until then, a gun is no more a weapon than a knife or a rock.



I get frustrated when I see ads for local gun shops selling "weapons" or when long time shooters call them "weapons".



Am I nuts?

 

[KBurgoyne]

no it bugs the crap out of me when people say vehicle. call it a truck, car, suv. fancy P. C. 'd up stuff bugs me too. like the material waste recovery facility and solid waste transfer station. just call it a dump like everyone else.



i wish i had a good local range to go to. the closest one has become so packed with morons that its scary. they wont let you shoot centerfire rifles standing anymore. some idiot probably got the biggest gun he could find and launched himself into the fence, and instead of banning the idiots they regulate everyone else. typical california.

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Not at all, AMink. The anti-gunners are the ones that are nuts.

Heck, at work the other day, I pulled out a pocket knife... er, excuse me... a universal tool, that I have carried for over 40 years, to cut some packaging tape on a box for an individual. I couldn't believe the gasps from a couple of co-workers. They were almost in serious cardiac arrest due to its "weapon" status in their lib PC pea brains. I brought to their attention that my universal tool was nowhere near as sharp as the razor knife they use to open parcels with.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Its more of a force of habit for some to call it a weapon. Most all of the military (even the Air Force) called it a weapon. Have to use one for it's intended military use and it forever becomes a WEAPON to you.



KB I also wish I had a good shooting range to go to. It takes all the fun out of it when you have to walk out your back door and take a few steps to your very own 600 yard shooting range. :-laf The problem is when the neighbor hood kids are out playing and get in the line of fire ya have to stop shooting and watch them play until they get out of the way. This is the backstop at our range.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Yeah, bugs me, too. I can see how certain things could be considered a weapon, like a 15" Bowie knife... . few practical uses for that, unless you use it for a machette... . But a pocket knife to be called a weapon is ridonkulous!! There are many people, just one hand is much more dangerous than a 2. 5" folding blade..... but those people don't drink the Kool-aid, either.....

 

[Bill Lins]

I brought to their attention that my universal tool was nowhere near as sharp as the razor knife they use to open parcels with.

But MUCH sharper than are they!

 

[GHarman]

Context, Context, context! If I swing a golf club at somebodys brain housing group with intent to mess up his health record, permanently, with malignant intent. That Golf Club is a weapon!

Trucks, cars and suv's are Vehicles and I hate 'em all:-laf! Man If I could have saved all the money flushed down the toilet buying and repairing vehicles over the years!!! However! It is an unfortunate necessity. No problem! It is what it is. On the other hand, when I hear someone calling a sporting firearm, designed for and exclusively used in competition, a "weapon", on televised "newscasts". That really creates a further lack of credibility with that reporter and network. Again, it is expected in this world we live in! Like it or not!

The words; Weapon and Vehicles, are in my vocabulary. I dont use them as often as in the past. However they do have their place!

GregH

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Its more of a force of habit for some to call it a weapon. Most all of the military (even the Air Force) called it a weapon. Have to use one for it's intended military use and it forever becomes a WEAPON to you.

But... but... BIGNASTY... We wuz taught:

SIR!
This is my "rifle",
This is my "gun",
This is for fighting,
This is for FUN!
SIR!

Sorry, unable to produce the accompanied choreography with this.

Now for an off topic moment...

Let's see - OV-10A...
Turn on Yaw Damper switch...
Step to rear of acft and push tail rapidly to one side
Observe wagging rudders
Turn off Yaw Damper switch.
Corrective action entered into 781: "OP CK SAT"
Miller Time... (or Hamms, Oly, Pabst, or other delicious nectars)

 

[BIGNASTY]

I think ours went a little different than that on pre flight control surface check on intercom.



Rudder Right then left

Horizontal stab up then down

Flaps extended 10% 20% 50% full down

Pull intercom cord snap a text book salute and thumbs up and direction to the runway.



And if it was one of the alert birds I had to climb out of it after getting the engine up and all the vitals to temp jump off the wing and run because they were airborne pretty darn fast.