The word "weapon"

[C.W.M.V.]

Yup. Exactly my case. Been out for 20 years and still use weapon, rifle or pistol. A 'gun' was only used for the main gun on my tank.

Don't forget artillery pieces!
Although we mostly used cannons to refer to them.

You know, you can call a dishwasher a time machine, but that doesn't make it so. Semantics games like this are kinda pointless and offensive. A rifle, pistol, firearm, gun whatever, they are weapons.

Now are the type of guy that insists on calling knives "edged tools"?

[pontiacpratt]

I call my PM9 a weapon because it's sole purpose is EDC. The rest are guns or firearms.

[Citadelgrad87]

It is a weapon. Sure, you could use it to hammer tent stakes, or to prop open a door, but it's a weapon.

Anyone who freaks out about a word is going to wet themselves when it makes that really loud noise and spits fire and projectiles.

[Sanman023]

my ccw permit calls them weapons...

[rugershooter]

I bought some of my firearms for use specifically as weapons for defense of my life. Some people refer to them as "defensive rifle/pistol/shotgun". I call them weapons. They were designed to be used as weapons (my ar-15 and SKS, for example), and I have them in case I ever need to shoot another person or an animal in defense of my life or the life of another. Those firearms are weapons and I don't have a problem refering to them as weapons. I shoot paper and other targets with them, but only to increase my skill with them in the event that I need to use them to save my life.

But I also have firearms that I have for hunting and for target shooting. I got them for those specific purposes. I don't refer to them as weapons. They weren't designed as weapons and aren't intended to be used as such.

[AfghanVetOrcutt]

I blame the Army for my habit of calling all firearms weapons, but if I'm talking to a non-shooter I do find myself trying to use "rifle" or "pistol" instead.

+1, currently trying to break myself of that habit by substituting 'weapon' with 'firearm'. Gun has always been a no-no. Used to get chewed up for calling my 'weapon' a 'gun'.

[FatalKitty]

sorry buddy - people in the know call them weapons because that's what they are.


while a spoon CAN be a weapon, it's primary use is cheerios.

while a rifle CAN be sporting equipment, it's primary use/design is killing.

People need to stop freaking out about what a weapon really is... as another user already stated - the 2ndA wasn't put in place to protect hunting or sporting. it's that kind of thinking that causes the anti crowd to be able to talk about "reasonable common-sense gun laws"
"you don't use a .50 to kill a deer"
no ****, I use it to take out a hard target.

[BigDogatPlay]

We specifically do not refer to anything in NRA courses as a weapon. It is always "the pistol", "this glock", "that revolver", etc.

QFT.... gun or firearm also work.

[Scuba Steve33]

They are weapons. Just because you don't use them as a weapon every day doesn't change the fact of what they are designed for.

[guitar-nut]

They are weapons. Just because you don't use them as a weapon every day doesn't change the fact of what they are designed for.

Couldn't have said it better myself. They're not toys and just because you only ever use yours to play on the range doesn't change what they were designed for. These are instruments of death, pretending that they're anything else is inviting negligence and carelessness.

[steamboat]

"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity."

quote attributed to S. Freud

The quote is most likely a paraphrase from one of his understudies, but it rings true... call a spade a spade.

[Southpaw45]

I was always told that the Marines use weapons. Everyone else use firearms...

[Maddog5150]

maybe some here would prefur "squishy squishy love machines?"

[glocklover]

I call any firearm a weapon. it's what they are.

[Agent 0range]

Yup. Exactly my case. Been out for 20 years and still use weapon, rifle or pistol. A 'gun' was only used for the main gun on my tank.

I was always told that the Marines use weapons. Everyone else use firearms...

"this is my rifle, this is my gun"
Same here. The mortar was a gun and the rifle was a weapon. Call the rifle a gun and you're pushing. Still trying to break the habit of refraining from using the word "gun".
It ultimately doesn't matter what you call it (gun, weapon, firearm, boomstick, etc.) because it will not change its capabilities and intentions.