Do we buy weapons or firearms?

[Captcurt]

I buy guns. How they are used in the future will decide if they are weapons.

 

[Deanimator]

My firearms are tools. Try to do me harm and they become weapons, just like a knife, a hammer or a pot of boiling water.

 

[BigSteve57]

I've officiated as an RSO for NRA sanctioned courses.
The instructors and those in charge of the event were adamant that we NOT refer to the guns as weapons, rather as firearms.

 

[BobABQ]

Weapons or firearms? Firearms of course. A weapon is more of an intended use or attitude. Many things can be used as a weapon but that is something decided by the individual using item.

 

[Walkalong]

I buy firearms.

 

[Scooter22]

I buy guns. The reason is for fun. I,m happy to share info with honest people. But if I get intrusively questioned by anti,s I smile and give them another word starting with F. Followed by the name of a mosquito spray. Always with a smile. I don't have to "splain" my hobby haters.

 

[Shimitup]

I've officiated as an RSO for NRA sanctioned courses.
The instructors and those in charge of the event were adamant that we NOT refer to the guns as weapons, rather as firearms.

Yep, when I got my RSO credentials we had a big W that was passed around the class to what ever person used the W word. I may employ any of my firearms as a weapon if the need for self defense arises.

 

[lysanderxiii]

I buy "rifles", "pistols" and "shotguns" according to the current laws.

 

[George P]

The weapon terminology comes mostly from military and LEO use. The more specific term is firearm, as weapons include armor, aircraft, halberds, trade sanctions and pathogens. I like to be specific when I can.

You left out the video game commandos....................

 

[marksman13]

I got out of the Army a decade ago. They are all rifles, pistols, shotguns, or collectively “guns” these days.

 

[Hokkmike]

No.

My defensive weapons are not for killing people.

Well sure they are, in your defense.

 

[Hokkmike]

Firearm would be a subset of weapons.

NOUN
a thing designed or used for inflicting bodily harm or physical damage.
• a means of gaining an advantage or defending oneself in a conflict or contest.

NOUN
a rifle, pistol, or other portable gun.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Seems kind of a pointless discussion. All firearms are weapons if you point them at someone.
Don't point your firearm at someone and you don't have to contend with this issue. And if you have to point it at someone, you've largely decided the issue for yourself.

 

[toxophilus]

I've always referred to them as what characteristic defines them i.e. Rifle / Semi-automatic Pistol / Revolver / Shotgun / Longbow / Recurve Bow etc. their intended usage can/may vary...

 

[rust collector]

I think the OP's point is that words matter, and the terminology we use affects how others relate to the tools which are the subject matter of our community. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to the original poser, but we are urged to consider the different responses to the different terms. If other people's concerns don't matter to you, negative responses should come as no surprise.

 

[Kleanbore]

Well sure they are, in your defense

They might kill, but that is not their purpose.

 

[Mauser lover]

The very term "Firearm" is a compound of two words, "Fire" and "Arm". An "arm" or "armament" is for what some here might call "social work" by its nature.
The "Fire" is because it uses combustion of fuel as power, as opposed to a previously compressed gas (pellet gun, nail gun, etc.) or electricity for propulsion. Although coal is burned to produce electricity, electricity is often the power for compression of the gas in a PCP air rifle... Oh wait! Nuclear fission is used to produce electricity, electricity is used to power those compressors for the PCP pellet rifles, which makes those pellet rifles nuclear weapons!

One argument is about is ridiculous as the other...

 

[bdickens]

Euphemisms don't change reality.

 

[PWC]

I think the OP's point is that words matter, and the terminology we use affects how others relate to the tools which are the subject matter of our community. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to the original poser, but we are urged to consider the different responses to the different terms. If other people's concerns don't matter to you, negative responses should come as no surprise.

Thank you Rust; you stated what I wanted to convey very succently. Rush always says "words mean something". To continue to use the anti's own words is to tacitly support their position and plays into their "assault" anything position.

We know what we mean when we say weapon, but to those outside our sphere, weapon has a negative connotation that may pre-prejudice others to our statements.

And everyone using these words know what they mean so word entomology be damned.

 

[GEM]

That's the point in a nutshell.

Euphemisms don't change reality.

No antigunner is fooled by the dancing around the purpose of these things. The increase in purchasing of guns is for their use as weapons for self-defense and possible civil/unrest and tyranny. Not competition or hunting.

Outside our sphere, I suggest you use this term that the Chinese used for the first gunpowder weapons:

Orifice penetrating flying sand magic mist tube.

Perhaps that will convince antigunners to come to our fold.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Do we buy weapons or firearms?

Yes.

 

[Drail]

Ahhhh - the perverted treachery of semantics. They might be the end of our civilization.

 

[Buzznrose]

Interesting to get a glimpse of everyone’s responses.

I see this as a question of mindset and culture and life experiences.

I used to call them different things...they can accurately be called by different names (firearm, gun, rifle, handgun, long gun, etc.) based on their design.

But folks who go through gun fighting training and take it serious are generally taught that for a warrior (or someone with the warrior mindset), the brain is the weapon, and all else (guns, knives, bats, frying pans, hands, feet, etc.) are simply tools to deploy as needed, offensively or defensively, to meet an objective.

When you hunt and you use a tool to harvest game, is it a weapon? I would say no, based on the definition of “weapon” requires an adversary. A target animal is not an adversary.

On the other hand, if you carry a firearm to defend yourself against a mountain lion, intent on harming you, then I would more readily agree you are using it as a defensive weapon.

Just how I look at it, from the perspective of a guy well beyond his physical warrior days but clinging to my warrior mindset as long as possible...

 

[lysanderxiii]

Is a steak knife a weapon?

That kind'a depends on how it is used, doesn't it?

 

[Tommygunn]

That's the point in a nutshell.

No antigunner is fooled by the dancing around the purpose of these things. The increase in purchasing of guns is for their use as weapons for self-defense and possible civil/unrest and tyranny. Not competition or hunting.

Outside our sphere, I suggest you use this term that the Chinese used for the first gunpowder weapons:

Orifice penetrating flying sand magic mist tube.

Perhaps that will convince antigunners to come to our fold.

"Orifice penetrating flying sand magic mist tube ....."

Now, that's a gem! Ooops. Double entendre. Hope you don't mind. See what I did there?