Why do people say “weapon?”

[KevGuy]

Without going into a long story about how this got aroused in myself, I just wish people used “firearm” or at least “gun.” Not “weapon.” Sigh...

[6.5 shooter]

Military lingo...

"7.62 x 63 ain't no 30-06 son" from some movie

[Scott N]

Originally Posted by KevGuy

Without going into a long story about how this got aroused in myself, I just wish people used “firearm” or at least “gun.” Not “weapon.” Sigh...

me too.

[thumper]

I've often wondered how I would answer a police officer, asking "Do you have any weapons in the house ?".

Hammers? Baseball bats? Knives? Screwdrivers? -- oh, do you mean firearms ?

[Pathfinder76]

Because that’s what it is. Why don’t people worry about things that matter?

[icehunter]

I just tell people that " a weapon is used in the commission of a offence" Other then that its just a knife,or frying pan or firearm.

[calgarychef]

This is going to be a long thread withnevrybody jumping in and arguing

I think a weapon is for killing people or defending yourselfl. I don’t hunt with weapons I hunt with firearms or a bow.

[lannie]

You need add certain intent for anything to become a weapon.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by chuck

Because that’s what it is. Why don’t people worry about things that matter?

I totally disagree. A firearm , or a knife or a baseball or a knitting needle or a beer bottle becomes a weapon only when it is intended for use or is used in a destructive manner against an adversary.Anything can become a weapon.. even your pick-up. I too get upset when responsible firearms owners refer to their guns as weapons. No wonder the antis don't like them. We help attach the stigma that our firearms don't deserve. It's time to change that BS !

[mattthegorby]

What if you conceal carry an assault/sniper rifle, with a round chambered, in 6.5 Creedmoor (because 6.5X55 isn't as inherently accurate) while crossing through leased land without permission, during hunting season - without a tag - but you were only intending to go practice shooting, and you are leaning against your ATV as it idles in a creek?

(edit: and your picture is posted on AHA...)

Is it still not a weapon?

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by mattthegorby

What if you conceal carry an assault/sniper rifle, with a round chambered, in 6.5 Creedmoor (because 6.5X55 isn't as inherently accurate) while walking through leased land without permission, during hunting season - without a tag - but you where only intending to go practice shooting, and you are leaning against your ATV as it idles in a creek?

Is it still not a weapon?

Not at that point it's not...but you may have to answer to someones'suspicions
and talk to another man in order to prove them wrong.

[mattthegorby]

Originally Posted by Salavee

I totally disagree. A firearm , or a knife or a baseball or a knitting needle or a beer bottle becomes a weapon only when it is intended for use or is used in a destructive manner against an adversary.Anything can become a weapon.. even your pick-up. I too get upset when responsible firearms owners refer to their guns as weapons. No wonder the antis don't like them. We help attach the stigma that our firearms don't deserve. It's time to change that BS !

In all seriousness, I agree that firearms owners should strategically talk about their firearms not as weapons and frame the conversation around sport shooting and hunting.

That being said, when others use the term weapon I feel it is counterproductive to argue with them. It just makes us firearms owners look like we are trying to be manipulative/irrational. It is just too easy to argue that firearms are weapons and you will never convince someone otherwise. Heck, many hunters/shooters call them weapons - not a mountain to die on.

[mattthegorby]

Originally Posted by Salavee

Not at that point it's not...but you may have to answer to someones'suspicions
and talk to another man in order to prove them wrong.

Fair enough, I can agree with that.

[Pathfinder76]

Start watching at 3:00. Oh the horror.

https://youtu.be/x_6bNpwDIAc

[HunterDave]

They aren’t guns, they are rifles. Get it right numbnutz!

https://youtu.be/4kU0XCVey_U

[dickthomson]

A second for military lingo. Right or wrong if it’s a term you hear used to describe everything from a sniper rifle to a machine gun the it becomes ingrained in your brain and hard to shake. Also the term “gun” dose not refer to your grandpa’s model 99 that is a term for an artillary piece. I continually have to tell my self to refer to firearms as such or “guns” when talking to people who are not of a military background

[6.5 shooter]

Guns belong on battle ships....or artillery.. the horror! As soon as your say weapon it becomes a verb

[Pathfinder76]

Where exactly is this a problem. The water cooler, church, school, the bleachers? Where is this hate speech happening so abundantly? Seriously, is this a large scale issue?

[Scott N]

The police have patrol carbines, and when the public owns the exact same rifle, it's called an assault weapon. These words are used intentionally to influence the uninformed in Canada.

[wally338]

Originally Posted by chuck

Because that’s what it is. Why don’t people worry about things that matter?

^like^

[58thecat]

Who cares....weapon, long gun, short gun, just lingo....words....meh

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

They aren’t guns, they are rifles. Get it right numbnutz!

https://youtu.be/4kU0XCVey_U

I like Cat's version......rifffles.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Scott N

The police have patrol carbines, and when the public owns the exact same rifle, it's called an assault weapon. These words are used intentionally to influence the uninformed in Canada.

This is a media problem, not a gun owner problem.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

I like Cat's version......rifffles.

Riffles, bangsticks, shotty's, weapons, guns, whatever.
I know the term "12 bore" gets some people choked , but I use that often when referring to an English made shotgun, not so much guns from other countries however, because that is what they call them over there.
Like Chuck said, it's more a media thing than anything else.

It's not like someone is calling a Mossberg a Remington!
Cat

[Scott N]

Originally Posted by chuck

This is a media problem, not a gun owner problem.

Agreed, but it's also the same terminology the police use, to the word.

[bobtodrick]

Originally Posted by chuck

Because that’s what it is. Why don’t people worry about things that matter?

'Firearms' weren't invented to compete in the Olympics.
They were invented by the Chinese to kill an enemy.

[Sashi]

Cowboy's never had weapons they had 6 guns and rifles.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by chuck

Where exactly is this a problem. The water cooler, church, school, the bleachers? Where is this hate speech happening so abundantly? Seriously, is this a large scale issue?

Look around. All the anti gun crap is fired up when guns are used as weapons.

Nobody really likes weapons. Like someone mentioned previously, "weapon" is a verb. AFIK, a gun or firearm are nouns. Different meanings altogether.

..and yes it is a large scale issue. You just don't see it.

[Pioneer2]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...48533700759008

[SylverCANADA]

Originally Posted by KevGuy

Without going into a long story about how this got aroused in myself, I just wish people used “firearm” or at least “gun.” Not “weapon.” Sigh...

Because that’s what it is...the primary purpose of a firearm has been to kill.