"Pistol/Handgun/Firearm" vs "Weapon"

[Bhamrichard]

I'm in the deep south, I just call it a "Farearhm"..

 

[Sunray]

"...Veterans usually refer to their firearm as their "weapon"..." It's all about training and politics. The troopies call it a weapon because that's what it is. If a civilian hunter says 'weapon', the anti-hunting media jumps on it.

 

[scythefwd]

I am ex military. Yes, EX, not former. I left eagerly, but on good terms.

Anyways, I never think of my guns/firearms as "weapons". My handguns, in general get referred to as either their caliber since I only own one of each or by the maker... rossi, ruger, FEG, etc.

My rifles get referred to by maker or caliber as well. My sks and Garand get called exactly that. My muzzle loader gets called black powder gun (though it is rifled) or muzzleloader. Everything else pretty much gets referred to caliber except the shotgun ... which is called the shotgun. The only weapons I own are from my martial arts days.

 

[navyretired 1]

The term weapon is something that used to be an absolute in the milatary. I've noticed that drill sergants don't demand that term much anymore. When writting I just automatically think and then write weapon.
Some retired military don't consider themselves X-anything, Once a professional military always a military man.
The only "guns" I ever used was a beautiful pair of Browning M-2, 50 caliber machine guns on the fordeck of a 31ft PBR Mkl or the 33ft PBR Mkll River Patrol Boats. Actually thats not quite correct as the both guns fed from the center so the right hand gun was a M-2 but left hand gun was called an M-284(or something like that) and it fed from the right side or between the two guns.

 

[Elvishead]

Here is a topic: I've noticed for years that there is a fundamental difference between a civilian pro-2A guy and an ex-military pro-2A guy.

Who cares? Unreal!

 

[22-rimfire]

My opinion is that the military use the term "weapon" as their generic term because they are in the people killing business. Civilian police are mostly ex-military who are comfortable with the "weapon" term and again their firearm is used for people primarily. The gun control advocates frequently refer to firearms as "weapons" because of the military and police association. Many would like to see only military or police carry firearms.

I use the terms depending on the situation as to whether or not I want to be generic or not.

 

[shockwave]

The NRA perspective on the term "weapon" is quite a surprise - I didn't think they were that sensitive to linguistic framing. No particular comments from me on any of the above, except that in my searches for firearms, I notice that some websites categorize automatic handguns as "pistols" vs "revolvers." Yet, when I normally use the term "pistol," I'm usually thinking of a revolver. So I think that differentiation is simply a matter of convenience for the vendors in question.

Historically, our ancestors used firearms as weapons - for killing game and marauding savages, and invading armies. Today, in the Chicago case, we see their use as weapons again stressed. So the NRA can promote wholesome family values in their terminology, but the reality is that guns have always been needed as weapons and still are. That's what CCW is all about.

 

[mcdonl]

I do not know how some people get the impression people around here are "stiff" shirts.

For crying out loud.... we are in the

GENERAL GUN SECTION of THR ... lol

Anyone know any good firearmssmiths?

Well, off to the LFS (Local Firearm Shop) lol

People are funny... lol

 

[cambeul41]

I sometimes say, "defensive noise maker." If asked what I mean, I specify twelve noises in the magazine and one in the chamber. Most people understand then.

 

[wishin]

I'm in the deep south, I just call it a "Farearhm"..

LOL. Who'da thunk it!

 

[buck460XVR]

I do not know how some people get the impression people around here are "stiff" shirts.

For crying out loud.... we are in the

GENERAL GUN SECTION of THR ... lol

Anyone know any good firearmssmiths?

Well, off to the LFS (Local Firearm Shop) lol

People are funny... lol

now that's funny!

 

[jnyork]

I have seen guys dang near come to blows over this. Same as "clip" vs. "magazine". Hilarious

 

[Kwanger]

I THINK, that in the military, there is a culture and presumption of stupidity. For many generations, the military was a repository for people who couldn't work anywhere else, sometimes literally right out of prison into the army. During my first stretch, there were still some old guys who were obviously going through the motions and coasting to retirement who could barely read. Because of this, army culture was intended to take men who were otherwise unable to even fundamentally take care of themselves and train them to live. How to dress, hygiene, courtesy, technical language. (Those of us in the army have seen 'technical' vocabulary that doesn't exist anywhere else.) It's not so much being correct as 'making stuff up'. But if it comes from your leadership and the training command, it is correct. Period. They technicalize the language of war to prove that they aren't cavemen.

I took a tactical rifle class in between range sessions a couple of years ago from an SF E-7 with all the resume checkmarks. We were doing rifle drills, he was yelling at some of my soldiers; "Keep your gun up when your head is up!" or something to that effect, and one of the E-6s joked to him; "You mean RIFLE, don't you?" He pulled us around during the break and explained; "You people don't have the mental capacity to have me using all of your RAM to worry about saying the correct words. I want you doing the correct ACTIONS. Rifle, gun, clip, magazine, whatever. When you are fighting, and your buddy yells he needs a clip, are you going to hold it and tease him until he says magazine? I could care less how you say it, I am concerned about how you DO IT."

I have a mind that likes to file things under correctness and technical areas, but I have grown to realize that there is a difference between someone who knows how to speak correctly and technically when the forum calls for it, and someone who doesn't understand the distinctions at all. I can hang with my redneck buddies I grew up with and let the technical specs slide, but if I were writing a report or giving a class, I would speak correctly.

Spot on. I'm ex army, and this statement just about nails it for me.

 

[LiveLife]

I have grown to realize that there is a difference between someone who knows how to speak correctly and technically when the forum calls for it, and someone who doesn't understand the distinctions at all.

We are all among gun/weapon advocate friends, right?

Let's not show divisiveness to our liberal anti-gun/weapon opponents - it will give 'em more to ponder and use against us.

 

[duns]

Weapon, handgun, rifle, firearm, etc all have slightly different meanings and I will use all these words in context. I often say gun which I see as an abbreviation for handgun, shotgun, machine gun or anything else ending in gun.

 

[Ruggles]

I use all of the terms. They all apply.

True.

 

[JoeSlomo]

Military firearms are used as weapons. Most don't "target shoot", and they don't hunt to provide game.

In the civilian sector, firearms are used predominantly for purposes other than taking a human life outside of necessity to complete a mission.

The overwhelming majority of shotguns take birds.

The overwhelming majority of rifles take larger game.

The overwhelming majority of pistols shoot targets.

Statistically speaking, it is a fluke when firearms in the civilian sector are used against humans. I fired approx 6000 rounds of handgun ammo during the last season I could compete, and not once did I engage, or need to engage, a human.

A kitchen knife can also be used to stab a human, however, that doesn't necessarily make it a "weapon".

 

[rocky branch]

"You mean RIFLE, don't you?" He pulled us around during the break and explained; "You people don't have the mental capacity to have me using all of your RAM to worry about saying the correct words. I want you doing the correct ACTIONS. Rifle, gun, clip, magazine, whatever. When you are fighting, and your buddy yells he needs a clip, are you going to hold it and tease him until he says magazine? I could care less how you say it, I am concerned about how you DO IT."

Hah!
Former SF, 66-70-that guy sounds like the real deal to me.

I rarely say weapon as that designates a tool I don't use anymore professionally.
I do use "piece" for something that traditionally is a weapon or used as such in employment.
Other than that, it's rifle, pistol, whatever.
I just don't use "gun."
I think guns have wheels or boats under them.

I think telling somebody what they ought to say is a waste of oxygen and an infringement of free speech.
Personally, I am proud of my service.
I do tend to measure a man in terms of that.

Free country.

 

[bracer]

Why back when I was in the army I dont recall using the word weapon--what was said and shown ( this is your rifle, this is your gun one is for shooting the other is for fun) but I use the names rifle, shot gun, revolver,and pistol when talking about my firearms.

 

[Fleetman]

I have a good friend....intelligent, a good businessman, and owns a very impressive collection of FIREARMS. However, and this grates me to no end, he insists on calling them "bang bang's".

 

[ClayInTX]

My Bang Bangs

My CBB (Carry Bang Bang) is an LCR.

I was told that the word weapon is food for lawyers, and to call my Carry Bang Bang a handgun (or a Bang Bang, I suppose).

I was also told to never call my other Bang Bangs a weapon, either.

That ol’ Debil jus’ won’t lemme alone.

 

[DocCas]

My grandson plays baseball. He uses a baseball bat to hit the ball. A baseball bat can also be used to hit people in the head, but he doen't call his baseball bat a "weapon" when playing baseball any more than I call my handguns "weapons" when at the pistol range.

 

[Legionnaire]

Firearm, rifle, pistol, revolver, handgun, weapon ... I use them all regularly. However, there are differences in meaning that should be considered. From Dictionary.com:

firearm -noun a small arms weapon, as a rifle or pistol, from which a projectile is fired by gunpowder.

This defines "firearm" as a subclass of "weapon," which is unfortunate because firearms are not all used as weapons. I consider them tools that may be used as weapons.

weapon -noun any instrument or device for use in attack or defense in combat, fighting, or war, as a sword, rifle, or cannon.

This defines "weapon" in terms of its use. And it is in this sense that the military and or law enforcement use the word. To them, a firearm is intended for either attack or defense.

I was a hunter safety instructor for many years. Our policy was to teach youngsters to use the term "firearm," or the more precise term (rifle, pistol, revolver, shotgun) appropriate to the firearm in question. In this context, we wanted young people to learn that there were appropriate uses for firearms that did not entail "attack" or "defense." I'm a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, and have little use for the "sporting use" criterion. But the best way to win young minds is to get them interested in firearms as tools for hunting and target shooting. Once they become shooters, they'll be much more easier to win to the general cause.

As one whose life and profession is all about words, vocabulary matters. And it needs to fit your message and your audience. So among fellow enthusiasts, I don't really give a rip what you call your stuff (although I'm as ready as any to ridicule those who should know better calling a "magazine" a "clip"). I regularly refer to my CCW as a "weapon." But I generally try to use the term "firearm" as it doesn't necessarily connote the intention of using the tool against another human being.

My two cents ... worth what you paid for it.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

I heard somewhere that a "gun" was anything up to 20mm in bore diameter, whereas "cannon" applied to anything above that. It was what I considered a reputable source at the time, but I don't remember what it was.

Anyway, having been through the drill sergeant thing, I have weapons. Specifically, they are handguns. More specifically, they are pistols. I do not object to anyone calling firearms anything as long as it is factually correct.

 

[huntsman]

when I took my CCW class the instructor made you throw a quarter into a cup every time you used the weapon word, he said it was too vague of a term and he does this because a LEO training course he attended made them throw a buck in when they used weapon to describe a firearm.