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

[WC145]

I vote for Honey Boo Boo.

Oh, just saw that's a TV show. Never mind. Change my vote to Honey Boom Boom.



How about people stop buying into the PC BS and just call the damn things whatever you want. No matter what terminology you use you're going to offend someone and sway no one so don't waste your time worrying over it.

 

[Reloadron]

When I grow up I hope top become a hopeless pedantic:

The nitpickers of the English language that drives the less detail oriented insane...often mistaken as a tool to impress others when in fact it is annoying.

Ron

 

[Sam1911]

I do use the term weapon regularly, and quite deliberately.

Many of my firearms are generally "weapons" and more than a few are quite specifically "weapons" with no question at all.

I do not wish to alarm anyone, but I also do not wish to detract from the publicly understood fact of the presence and need for WEAPONS in our society and in the hands of our fellow citizens.

Trying to dress up our "sport" or "hobby" in "sporting" guise has not done us any benefit and only serves to make it harder to RE-establish in the minds of our population that it is necessary and proper for American citizens to be ARMED with WEAPONS.

 

[TAKtical]

Well said sam. I agree 100%

 

[sansone]

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.

this^^

 

[Bwana John]

"This is my rifle this is my gun, this is for fighting and this is for fun"


http://youtu.be/4kU0XCVey_U

 

[Trent]

I do use the term weapon regularly, and quite deliberately.

Many of my firearms are generally "weapons" and more than a few are quite specifically "weapons" with no question at all.

I do not wish to alarm anyone, but I also do not wish to detract from the publicly understood fact of the presence and need for WEAPONS in our society and in the hands of our fellow citizens.

Trying to dress up our "sport" or "hobby" in "sporting" guise has not done us any benefit and only serves to make it harder to RE-establish in the minds of our population that it is necessary and proper for American citizens to be ARMED with WEAPONS.

Bravo!

 

[mcdonl]

I guess 1911, if your talking about the use of them weapon is appropriate, but they are guns. The definition of a gun indicates it can be a weapon, as can a sword or a pen. The point is, it is more precisely a gun... not a weapon unless it is being used as a weapon. Just as a hammer is used for pounding in nails (Or screws if you work in Boston) and it only becomes a weapon when you start swinging it at people.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Suppose someone grabbed up their kids baseball bat and hit you with it. Would that make it a "weapon" rather than a toy or sporting equipment?

When Trevon Martin sat astride George Zimmerman’s chest and pounded his skull on the sidewalk did that make the sidewalk a "weapon"?

How about a custom built 1911 race gun that is only used to shoot cardboard targets? Is it a weapon?

Maybe what you do with a thing should define the crime rather than its potential for misuse by bad people. If you use it as a weapon, it is a weapon. BTW, there is a moral and legitimate time to use a weapon and when that time comes you need the right tool for the job.

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

Maybe what you do with a thing should define the crime rather than the potential for misuse by bad people.

There you go, folks. The crux of the matter has been touched upon. What you do with a thing, if it's bad, should be defined as a crime, not the mere possession of the implement or its potential. Label the implement what you will, the onus is on what is perpetrated with it. Nothing perpetrated? Nothing bad has been done with your item that has potential to do whatever the hand holding it has potential to do.

Mindset: Therein lies your demon or no.

Woody

 

[inkinskin]

Call them "bunnies"

 

[beatledog7]

Exactly, and as I've been saying. How you use a thing--any thing--is what defines it to you.

My firearms can be very effective weapons--any of them. I don't shy away from that by insisting that they are merely tools or sporting implements. 2A is about defense against tyranny, and that takes weapons. I don't see a disconnect between the concept of intended use and RKBA--in fact, I think they marry up quite nicely.

But I still think that when we insist on public--even at times militant--use of the term, we are inviting more scrutiny upon ourselves to no good end.

 

[CMC]

A weapon is an instrument used in defensive or offensive combat.
It could be a bat , knife, firearm , etcetera

 

[Skribs]

Maybe what you do with a thing should define the crime rather than its potential for misuse by bad people. If you use it as a weapon, it is a weapon. BTW, there is a moral and legitimate time to use a weapon and when that time comes you need the right tool for the job.

I don't think that a weapon is a bad thing, though. Using one unjustifiably is.

 

[benEzra]

But I still think that when we insist on public--even at times militant--use of the term, we are inviting more scrutiny upon ourselves to no good end.

We have some good data points to test that theory. In Canada, Australia, and the UK, gun owners worked very hard to get others to view guns as "sporting implements" like lawn darts. The problem with that, of course, is that if you treat guns like lawn darts, then they can be banned using the same rationale used to ban lawn darts, e.g. that for merely sporting purposes, very little misuse/harm will be tolerated since sporting uses are frivolous and unnecessary. That's why I say that the de-emphasis of guns as weapons of personal defense caused immense harm to gun ownership in those countries.

In our own country, things did not turn around and start shifting back in favor of gun ownership until we got out from under the "guns as sporting implements" meme and got back to the realization that the majority reason for gun ownership in this country is as defensive weapons, not hunting or sport shooting tools.

 

[fastbolt]

Situational context.

My terminology is dependent on the situation and totality of circumstances involved.

My use of the term "weapon", like that of another poster, is intentional and quite specific. I want no misunderstanding of what I mean.

When I'm teaching or working with someone using a firearm as a dedicated defensive weapon ... it's a weapon. That's its purpose in that role.

When discussing hunting, target shooting or other roles? Firearm ... or whichever commonly used term has better particularity & specificity (handgun, rifle, shotgun, revolver, semiauto pistol, etc).

Trying to compare baseball bats, motor vehicles and other things whose specific usage under certain circumstances can cause them to be considered as "weapons" within the interpretation of local (and case) laws is a bit disingenuous.

 

[Certaindeaf]

My word weapon is my computer. I think it's appropriate.

 

[breakingcontact]

I suppose things will pay out in the courts of public opinion.

In the meantime, know I AM on the side of the 2nd Amendment. I just want us to speak in terms and cultivate an image that encourages others to support our rights (including defense, not just sport/hunting) as well.

-Out.

 

[JustinJ]

In our own country, things did not turn around and start shifting back in favor of gun ownership until we got out from under the "guns as sporting implements" meme and got back to the realization that the majority reason for gun ownership in this country is as defensive weapons, not hunting or sport shooting tools.

I agree with that. I believe it is very hard for anybody to argue against the position that all people are entitled to defend themselves. This however may be a double edged sword as one could argue that in almost any civilian situation a handgun is sufficient for defense or all that is practical. I suppose it could be harmful to negate the sporting uses of military style rifles. The best argument may be that a military style rifle could be essential after a catastrophic event or in the case of massive civil unrest. Most people, myself included, do not believe personal gun collections would allow a group of civilians to defeat a modern military so the "defeat of tyranny argument" does not sell, imo.

 

[Trent]

Most people, myself included, do not believe personal gun collections would allow a group of civilians to defeat a modern military so the "defeat of tyranny argument" does not sell, imo.

Better keep an eye on Syria, the population is doing "just that" - the question is, can they win against the Government with just improvised explosives and small arms, and no outside help? (Or will help arrive at the last minute when it's not "politically risky" and the battle is pretty much decided?)

 

[45_auto]

Most people, myself included, do not believe personal gun collections would allow a group of civilians to defeat a modern military so the "defeat of tyranny argument" does not sell, imo.

What kind of modern military does the Taliban have? I never saw any tanks, planes, helicopters, etc in Afghanistan that weren't ours.

Does modern military mean beat-up Ak47's and RPG's, and being able to build IOD's?

They seem to be doing pretty well against the most modern military in the world.

 

[silicosys4]

^^ hmm.
I don't know about you, but I live within 75 miles of three coast guard bases, within 100 miles of Bangor sub station, within 125 miles of Ft. Lewis. I don't think there is a good comparison to be made for a small country halfway around the world, and a domestic situation...the response on the ground would be much quicker, and much more concentrated, given that the entire U.S. military is already here in force, and we have the best transportation system in the world.
The west coast is gearing up to stop China. A domestic insurgency wouldn't be too big an issue.
This isn't an argument to restrict gun ownership, but lets be realistic. In the end, the U.S. government has nothing to fear from private gun owners as long as the U.S. military is still following orders. At what point the military stops following orders and what those orders would have to be for the military to stop following them...I don't feel that's a High Road discussion.

 

[bluetopper]

I don't have any weapons but I have many firearms. My firearms are for my pleasure, amusement, and entertainment.

God have mercy on the soul that makes me turn one of my firearms in to a weapon.

 

[beatledog7]

In our own country, things did not turn around and start shifting back in favor of gun ownership until we got out from under the "guns as sporting implements" meme and got back to the realization that the majority reason for gun ownership in this country is as defensive weapons, not hunting or sport shooting tools.

I'm not suggesting we fall into the nomenclature trap so clearly sprung on gun owners in other countries. I'm all about applying the term that best fits the context of the firearm's intended or "at the moment" use.

Cases in point, because teaching has taught me that clarity is often solidified by examples:

- My normal carry gun is on the bench to be cleaned, unloaded and action open. It's a "weapon" even while it's there, because use as a CCW is the only reason I own it. Its status as purely a "weapon" is ongoing in my context. It has neither a sport shooting or hunting role for me.

- I have a "weapon" within four feet of me right now. It's one of my primarily target guns, a CZ-75, with a 147-gr JHP in the pipe and 15 more behind it. I don't imagine any paper targets are going to pop up in my bedroom tonight, so it's not a sporting gun at the moment. I took my normal HD pistol to the range, and it's not been cleaned yet, so the CZ is serving as stand-in. Tonight, it's a "weapon."

- A few feet further away there's a BPS with 7 rounds of 00 Buckshot, and I don't anticipate being visited by any whitetail before morning (though in four weeks there'd better be some reindeer!). That BPS is a "weapon" as well, at this point in time. In fact, like my CCW, it is always a "weapon" for me, since HD is the sole reason I own it. For me it has no sport shooting or hunting purpose, and I would not pretend that it does.

When I swap that CZ out for my regularly serving HD pistol tomorrow, I'll unload it and put it back in the safe, where it will get demoted, in a sense, from "weapon" to "firearm" until such time as a specific intent and context for it are once again activated.

Weaponization capability. Purpose. Intent. It takes all three for anything to be a weapon.

 

[TennJed]

Projectile storage unit