Hmmm, words mean things, but not necessarily always what the people who use them think they do ...
Here's some various dictionary definitions from various major dictionary sources. They range from 'modern', to as far back as 1828, so you can see the concepts have often remained fairly consistent. Also note the use of the word 'civilian' as a further definition of the word 'citizen' in two of the listed definitions.
First,
Citizen :
Quick definitions (Civilian)
noun: a nonmilitary citizen
adjective: associated with or performed by civilians as contrasted with the military
NOUN: 1. A person owing loyalty to and entitled by birth or naturalization to the protection of a state or nation. 2. A resident of a city or town, especially one entitled to vote and enjoy other privileges there. 3. A civilian. 4. A native, inhabitant, or denizen of a particular place: “We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human community†(Franklin D. Roosevelt).
ETYMOLOGY: Middle English citisein, from Anglo-Norman citesein, alteration (perhaps influenced by dainzain, denizen) of Old French citeain, from cite, city. See city.
OTHER FORMS: citi·zen·ly —ADJECTIVE
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English citizein, from Anglo-French citezein, alteration of Old French citeien, from cité city
1 : an inhabitant of a city or town; especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman
2 a : a member of a state b : a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it
3 : a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state
- cit·i·zen·ly /-z&n-lE also -s&n-/ adjective
synonyms CITIZEN, SUBJECT, NATIONAL mean a person owing allegiance to and entitled to the protection of a sovereign state. CITIZEN is preferred for one owing allegiance to a state in which sovereign power is retained by the people and sharing in the political rights of those people <the rights of a free citizen>. SUBJECT implies allegiance to a personal sovereign such as a monarch <the king's subjects>. NATIONAL designates one who may claim the protection of a state and applies especially to one living or traveling outside that state <American nationals working in the Middle East>.
• noun 1 a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth. 2 an inhabitant of a town or city.
1. One who enjoys the freedom and privileges of a city; a freeman of a city, as distinguished from a foreigner, or one not entitled to its franchises.
2. An inhabitant of a city; a townsman. Shak.
3. A person, native or naturalized, of either sex, who owes allegiance to a government, and is entitled to reciprocal protection from it.
4. One who is domiciled in a country, and who is a citizen, though neither native nor naturalized, in such a sense that he takes his legal status from such country.
CITIZEN, n.
1. The native of a city, or an inhabitant who enjoys the freedom and privileges of the city in which he resides; the freeman of a city, as distinguished from a foreigner, or one not entitled to its franchises.
2. A townsman; a man of trade; not a gentleman.
3. An inhabitant; a dweller in any city, town or place.
4. In general sense, a native or permanent resident in a city or country; as the citizens of London or Philadelphia; the citizens of the United States.
5. In the United States, a person, native or naturalized, who has the privilege of exercising the elective franchise, or the qualifications which enable him to vote for rulers, and to purchase and hold real estate.
If the citizens of the United States should not be free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own.
CITIZEN, a. Having the qualities of a citizen.
Now, for the word
Civilian :
1 : a specialist in Roman or modern civil law
2 a : one not on active duty in a military, police, or fire-fighting force
• noun a person not in the armed services or the police force.
• adjective relating to a civilian.
— ORIGIN Old French civilien, in the phrase droit civilien ‘civil law’.
noun (plural ci·vil·ians)
nonsoldier: somebody who is an ordinary citizen rather than a member of the armed forces
adjective
relating to civilians: relating to ordinary citizens as opposed to members of the armed forces
[Early 14th century. From Old French civilien “of civil law,†from civil “civil,†from Latin civilis (see civil). Originally referring to “civil lawâ€; the modern sense dates from the early 19th century.]
civilian [Show phonetics]
noun [C]
a person who is not a member of the police or the armed forces:
Ci*vil"ian (?), n. [From Civil]
1. One skilled in the civil law.
Ancient civilians and writers upon government. Swift.
2. A student of the civil law at a university or college. R. Graves.
3. One whose pursuits are those of civil life, not military or clerical.
Now, I've also often used the word 'civilian' to refer to non-L/E, non-military & non-Fire folks, too, but that's mostly a matter of work place related convenience, because just about everyone else uses the same definitions and distinctions (In & Out of L/E). The distinction of 'civilian law enforcement' versus 'military law enforcement' is also something that's been used often enough, and it's generally used to distinguish between ordinary (civil, non-military) L/E and members of the military charged with the responsibility of performing law enforcement duties.
I don't get too wrapped up around the axle about the common usage of the words civilian & citizen ... and, looking over some of the various dictionary definitions of the last 170+ years, it doesn't seem that it's been an issue for most of the folks enjoying the freedoms and rights of living in our great country, either.
I find it interesting that while I'm apparently still considered a 'citizen' while I'm a currently employed cop ... at least according to some of the definitions listed above ... that apparently I'm not a 'civilian', in the strict sense of some definitions, anyway.
How any of this has anything to do with cops being properly trained to use semiauto and/or fullauto rifles & carbines in the lawful performance of their duties ... I have no idea.
It certainly seems some folks want to limit the abilities of cops to respond to the threats posed by heavily armed suspects endangering the general public, though ...
Also, like TheFederalistWeasel mentioned, I'm probably more likely to 'need' any rifle issued by my employing agency, while engaged in performing my assigned duties during the course & scope of my employment, than I am on my own time.
I'm surprised this thread topic is still going, though ...
Law-abiding citizens, or citizens charged with the responsibility of law enforcement, we're all on the same side you know.
If you have a problem with the laws enacted by OUR legislators, on whatever local, state or federal levels (and apparently with the approval of a majority of people which make their desires known to the politicians that they keep electing) ... then this probably isn't a L/E problem, you know. We don't 'make' the laws, and we aren't allowed to 'judge' their constitutionality and legality, either.
