Too old to change

[hornady]

What’s in a name, I like many on here as well as other forms, I am a Vet, my father was a vet, from the first time I picked up a rifle, it was drilled into me, it is a rifle or weapon.
In the Military, as many know the Military had ways to get the point across that there were expectable, and unacceptable terms for a Weapon or Rifle.
But in the politically correct world we now live in, I have taken some heat over my use of the word Weapon as used to describe a Rifle.
In last years Pa, Hunting Digest, a hunter safety instructor placed a short piece in the Digest stating, Terms like Weapon and firearm should be replaced with more politically correct terms for the benefit of the Anti Hunting / gun people.
At first I thought, well why not, but as I said old habits die-hard.
And also, it is a Weapon, and giving it a warm fuzzy name, to appease a group that will never accept Firearms anyway, is a waste of time.
Firearms should be respected, and I believe this is why, the Military used the Term Weapon, it instills respect,
 Calling them something like a (projectile launching system) may sound all warm and fuzzy to the politically correct crowd.
But is it not also taking something away from the respect a weapon deserves.

[Heather]

A weapon is a weapon and a firearm is a firearm...sounds pretty simple to me.  I am not too old to change...just too stubborn.   

Heather

[bearmgc]

Semantics, sounds like an ego problem. Ignore them and they'll go away.

[Sourdough]

I'm a 4-H Shooting Instructor.  We avoid using the term Weapon, we call them guns or rifles.  The reason is simple for us.  Many of the kids are in the program because the Dad wants them to learn to shoot.  Others are there because their Anti-gun mothers are at least intelligent enouth to know living in Alaska her kids are going to be exposed to guns.  And those kids need to know what not to do when one is encountered.  These Moms from both sides are already nervous and really don't want their babies there in the first place.  So by refraining from using the term Weapon it does not strike a nerve with them.  It's a balancing act to make the mothers comfortable so the kids can stay.

I do have to say we are quite successfull.  We have converted many Anti gun Moms into shooting Moms.  I'm not doing it to be politically correct, I'm doing it to ease emotions and help promote calm.  

It really gives one a sense of accomplishment when after four or five weeks you see a Anti gun Mom ease up to the firing line and sit down at a bench.  Then the child becomes the instructor, and teaches the Mom to shoot.  Then the smile on Mom's face when the kid reels the target back and there are holes in the target.  We just converted a Anti gun Mom into a shooter.  And a small thing like not using certain terms like weapon is part of the process.  Many may think it insignificant, but it a big part of making them comfortable.  

[bearmgc]

But, remains the obvious...Guns are for killing, as well as shooting. And in the end, a gun shot at a target, has the express purpose of defense, ie. killing. Why pander to the Left's strategy of manipulating words to soften the agenda, or more importantly, the true purpose?

Ultimately, we are talking the 2nd Amendment here. Isn't THAT the bottom line?

[SHOOTALL]

I defend myself with a weapon be it a length of pipe or rifle . I hunt with a tool be it a bow or rifle .
I choose what I call it by the sentence I use it in .

[dukkillr]

I defend myself with a weapon be it a length of pipe or rifle . I hunt with a tool be it a bow or rifle .
I choose what I call it by the sentence I use it in .

I've always thought this was a strange debate.  To me a weapon is any number of things, a knife, a pipe, a gun, a slingshot, etc... If you're using a gun why not say "gun" or "rifle" or "shotgun"?  It's more descriptive.  It has nothing to do with being politically correct.

I don't drive a "vehicle" I drive a "truck", or even an "F-150".

[SHOOTALL]

Yep 

[bearmgc]

Politically correct: this term is an oxymoron, as it is used to deceive true meaning from agenda. But in the end it is a manipulative term in the hands of whoever has not the integrity, to tell the truth.

When you look at the history of how guns have changed the world, the results are obvious, no matter what the semantics have evolved, or been manipulated to express.

[Hodr]

A lady in the next town called the sherrif about possible domestic violence stating on the 911 call that her husbnd threatend her with a "butcher" knife.  Upon response of two deputies, she said husband locked himself into house and provided them with key.  after negative responses from the house they started to open door when the guy came out with the knife, refused to drop it and charged the officers.  Both long term officers fired and subject was DOA at hospital.  Now she wants to sue everyone in sight, has given an interview claiming armored  (?) LEO came in and used assault weapons, murdering her loving husband, who had a "kitchen utensil" in his hand when shot down after trespassing on her property.
No I am not kidding.  Story was played out over a 30+ day period in the Prescott Newspaper.
Sort of makes you think.

blindhari

[hornady]

Sourdough thank you and I respect what you do, in your case I may be able to see your point, it just seems to me this is one more thing we as sportsmen and shooter must bow down to this political correctness fever that is smothering us.
I know guys that have given up the sport, to appease a wife, Girl friend, or other associates; I know others that would never admit they are hunters, in public. One of the few things great about getting older, people expect you to be uncouth, and to speak your mind not worrying about hurt feelings.
So to all those that are offended by my reference to a Rifle as a weapon, I am too old to change or care. 

[SHOOTALL]

I just think it sounds smarter to say i hunt deer with a rifle . I grew up where a 30-30 ment rifle and gun ment shotgun . I go out my way to be NON pc but have no problem saying rifle if it decribes what tool i used better .

[mcwoodduck]

I avoid the Term weapon and have never liked it when refering to sporting arms.
I went ot Military school, I was the arms Sgt, and it was either a Rifle or a Weapon.
In the Pistol team it was Handgun, Pistol, or Side Arm.
The rifle team was - Rifle.
To me a weapon is what you carry or have to attack someone or defend your self.  Describes a military firearms to a tee.
While all firearms can be used for this as a secondary task.  Loaded or not.  Fire arms make good clubs and most are heavier than a baseball bat.
Even the self defense handguns and the AK I have, I really do not see the primary use as a weapon.
The rifles and shotguns are either hunting or target.  Rifle, Shotgun, handgun, Firearm all tell what it is rather than a use.
Even if your primary use is as a weapon. (Self Defense)
Then again I am the one that said when the left was screaming aboout Bayonette, and bayonette lugs I was using the terms, multi tool and multi tool adapter. ( I am still baffeled that no one made a folding bipod that used the bayonette lug as the adapter).
The left makes us out to be nothing but killers, rednecks, biggots, and thugs for liking to shoot and hunt.  Why give them any reason with the term weapon.  May be it is the Assault Weapon and Nuclear Weapon that have given it a bad taste in my mouth.
Is that pocket knife a tool or a weapon?  Mine is a tool as it has never been used as a weapon.  Doesn't mean it can't.
Is that base ball bat sports gear or a weapon?  
The bat, knife or firearm are just objects, the term weapon implies a use.  Much like Deer rifle, Skeet gun, target handgun, or squirrel rifle.

[Pat/Rick]

I use all the terms described. Depends on the context of the situation.

[powderman]

SOURDOUGH. Agreed Sir, I feel the same way. I hardly ever use the term weapon, but rifle or gun. The anti gunners use subtle things to make guns look bad. Watch the news, any time theres a murder theres a picture of a handgun on the screen as they read the story. Makes no difference what WEAPON was used, even an axe, knife, ball bat, they still show the pic of a handgun. Get it??? Handgun = murder, right??? I've written and made enough calls to the media about this that it's not as bad as it used to be, but just last week they did the same thing. Shotgun murder, pic of handgun. POWDERMAN. 

[Sourdough]

I never got into calling a gun a weapon.  As I grew up my Grandpa and Dad called them Rifles, Shotguns or Pistols.  The term Gun was used in a derogatory manner by my Mother or women who did not know the differance between Rifles, Shotguns, or Pistols.  I never heard the term weapon used to refer to a gun of any type till I went into the Air Force.  When I went into the Air Force the guy at the Firing Range/Small Arms Range,  called them weapons.  While I understood what they ment by the term, it sort of went against my nature since I had always heard them called Rifles.  I never did change my terms for them, to me they have never been a Weapon.  To me a Weapon can be anything from a Knife or stick to a Bazzoka.  Weapon is a very broad term, that does not well identify what is being used.

Along with the negative images it brings up from the unknowledgiable public.

[teamnelson]

We train "one mind, any weapon." I think its been beat up enough here that most sane folks realize that the term "weapon" implies intent for use in a defensive or offensive posture. So in military contexts, in which sporting and hunting are not part of the training, weapons use and safety is appropriate terminology. We do not however give boy scouts weapons training ... It does bother me when folks at the public range refer to their firearms as "weapons" in front of kids and new shooters.

There are many who believe that some (if not all) firearms are only useful AS weapons (i.e. not in hunting or sporting events) and sadly some are hunters & sportsmen who would gladly have our ARs and AKs taken as long as they can keep their bolts and levers. Many of our modern shooting sports may in fact bolster that idea (i.e. CAS, 3 gun, tactical pistol, rifle) as the competition is based around use of the firearm as a weapon. I wonder sometimes if that isn't hurting "the cause" somewhat, as much as I love shooting them.

[mcwoodduck]

Team Nelson,
While CAS, 3 gun and othere modified versions do recreate war combat of some kind they are still target games.
The more people shoot the target games and with rifles like the AR the more comfortable they are going to be with them and take some of the WOW factor out of it.
The AR is as accurate as any light bolt action, or single shot rifle and has a place as a sporting arm.  personally I still feel strange hunting with mine.  i have done it but still feel weird.  maybe the more I do the less strange I will feel and not say rotten VC/ Commie/ Terrorist/ .... ground Squirrel.