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

[breakingcontact]

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.

 

[Iramo94]

I use rifle for everything that is a rifle, shotgun for everything that is a shotgun, and handgun for everything that is a handgun.

 

[hso]

Firearm is the generic term without any inference of purpose.

 

[Ironclad]

We could call them cuddly pink teddy bears and it wouldn't change what they are or how people view them. They are what they are. I think that better PR will be gained through responsible use and not through vocabulary.

 

[General Geoff]

I don't see what the problem is with referring to firearms as weapons, since that is often (but not always) their primary purpose. Consider that the term firearm contains the word arm, which stems from the latin arma, meaning weapon. Kind of difficult to distance firearms from arms, considering it's part of the name.

 

[BP44]

It does seem every tool is using at the term weapon:banghead: it seems funny to me as well.

It's the mall ninjas rubbing off on the new gun folks and the term is becoming mainstream. I call all of my guns......... Guns

 

[Warp]

At Appleseed we always refer to it as a Rifle. Always, and nothing else. Because that is what it is. (it's a rifles only event though)

Personally I use either gun or firearm if using it in a generic, describes-all manner. Otherwise I say rifle, shotgun, handgun, pistol, revolver, whatever accurately describes what I am talking about.

I don't use weapon because the word is far too vague.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Well rifle, shotgun, pistol,handgun, etc are all technically the most correct because they just refer to what the physical object is. I think weapon refers to the context it's being used. Just as a scoped precision rifle becomes a "sniper rifle" only when being used by a sniper.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Gun, Pistol

 

[fanchisimo]

I think it's all semantics. No matter what you call it, it is what it is. A rose by any other name is still a rose. Perhaps we should call them roses. Lol.

 

[Twiki357]

I usually use the term "Firearm" unless I'm talking about a specific firearm. I try to avoid the word "Gun" because that is what the news media always uses [gun or assault rifle] for reporting negative news events.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Fanchisimo, I'm inclined to disagree. Words mean things. The words one chooses create a mental image in the one who hears them. By choosing our words carefully we also can exert some control on the perception others have of us. Don't underestimate the power words have on perception, or the power perception has on ideology.

 

[baylorattorney]

Heater. Lol. It is what it is. A sidearm, long arm, handgun, long gun, weapon.

 

[baylorattorney]

People that hate guns will hate them no matter what you call them, they know what it is and they don't like it. The way to change their minds isn't by smoke and mirrors or semantics as the gentleman stated, but by providing more examples of the positive influence of guns in our culture.

 

[wgaynor]

I am suddenly reminded of my Drill Sergeant yelling at us for calling them guns and not weapons...

 

[bracer]

I used weapons when I was in the army, but all I have is sporting firearms.

 

[Blackstone]

Unless I'm hunting, I only ever use firearms.

 

[bobmcd]

Funny, when I'm not thinking about it much, I tend to call all of my shooting irons "weapons", including .22 target pistols. At the range, showing a newbie how to shoot, I may find myself saying "Alrighty then, clear the weapon and place it on the bench." A large part of this is just socialization from my time in the Army, I suppose.

For me, "weapon" is not a dirty word.

 

[Onmilo]

I like the term "Blaster" myself.
"Weapon" implies the item is generally used for the purpose of offense or defense in a combat scenario.
"Firearm, as noted by hso, is a general term indicating the item can be used in a wide range of scenarios.
Then there are the more detailed descriptions of individual items and the specialized features the item allow such as "Rifle", "Shotgun", "Semiautomatic pistol" and "Revolver".

 

[6.5x55swedish]

I am glad that I am not the only gun owner cringing at the bad PR we get from some members of our sport. Thinking that what we call our guns has no impact on our image is fool hardy. I primarily own guns for hunting, but in public I refer to myself as a sportsman or hunter... not an deer killer. The wording makes a big difference to those who are on the fence about the issue.

I often end up quickly ducking into the local gun shops, getting what I need and getting out because frankly I am embarrassed by the customer who is usually standing around somewhere spouting off about his cold dead hands or what ever other bazaar stuff that oozes through his brain and then loudly gets broadcast across the store.

The fact of the matter is we are an ever shrinking group who now does not have the political numbers power we used to have... we need to promote the best public image we can at every opportunity, because soon we will need outside public support to prevent infringement on our rights.

 

[mcdonl]

I buy guns at the gun store. The "LGS" as everyone likes to say. Good enough for them, good enough for me.

 

[CZ223]

We need to stop worrying about being politically correct.

 

[MedWheeler]

It's about context for me as well. If I'm discussing it as a potential defense piece ("holster your weapon", or ".. where you keep your weapon while you're asleep..") then I do frequently use that term as well.
Otherwise, it is what it is, a rifle, handgun, or the coverall term "firearm."

 

[Crashbox]

I prefer to use the term "firearm" as opposed to "gun".

 

[MaterDei]

Well, if it's one that doesn't have a name I refer to them as weapons. Like said before, the Army beat the word 'gun' out of my vocabulary unless I'm referring to an artillery piece.

My favorite weapons have names. Boom Stick, Betsy and Vera being examples.