A bee buzzing in my bonnet the "W" word.

[MoJo]

Let's talk about words and their connotations. The "W" word should be purged from the English language except for military uses. "Hey MoJo what 'W' word are you talking about?" says you. The "WEAPON" word - - - a lot of us, myself included, are veterans and our firearms were referred to as a weapon. A valid use of the word since that is all the military uses guns for. In civilian life, how many of us use a gun as a weapon? A CHL is not carrying a weapon they are carrying a tool for personal protection it only becomes a weapon if it is used as such.

I never gave this much thought until I started taking NRA instructor's classes and the TC told us the NRA wanted us to purge the "W" word from our vocabulary. Their position is calling a firearm a weapon casts it in a negative light giving antis more ammunition to use against gun owners. The very rabid of the antis sign up for and take NRA classes looking for ammunition to use against law abiding gun owners. They have been known to sneak live ammo into the classroom and do other things to cause accidents. They also are keenly aware of what we teach and learn. The word weapon is a hot button for them.

There are many things that in and of themselves are common devices but, can be used as a weapon. A baseball bat, a claw hammer, a screwdriver, a pickup truck, even a piece of firewood have been used as weapons. Do we call these items weapons? No we call them a baseball bat, hammer, screwdriver, truck, and firewood. Let's start calling them guns, firearms, rifles, pistols, handguns, or shotguns. Leave the word "Weapon" for the military and let's remember that it's a Glock brand tool of personal protection not a weapon.

[RottenApple]

completely. A gun CAN be a "weapon", but it is, more accurately, a tool. It is the mind in control of the firearm that is the true weapon.

Like yourself, I never put much thought into it until I became an NRA Certified Instructor. My TC was definitely on us whenever we used the "W" word. By the end of the class, none of us were calling a firearm a weapon.

[K.Mooneyham]

I try to use the word firearm, primarily, and gun, secondarily. I think firearm is an useful term, and gun is a colloquial term (though I know that a gun can also be artillery).

[RottenApple]

I try to use the word firearm, primarily, and gun, secondarily. I think firearm is an useful term, and gun is a colloquial term (though I know that a gun can also be artillery).

Personally I try to use pistol, rifle, shotgun. If speaking in general terms I'll use firearm or (less frequently) gun. If we control the terminology, we can take control of the debate.

[bdickens]

Lets not tiptoe around reality. The purpose of a defensive sidearm is to be used as a weapon. That's what it is: a Defensive Weapon. WEAPON. Make peace with that.

So what if it gives anti's the willies. You could call it a fluffy bunny and they'd still get the vapors.

Trying to pretend otherwise is bowing to Political Correctness, which is perhaps best defined as "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a [redacted] by the clean end. "

[surferdaddy]

I have to say that I kinda agree that it is a bit silly to be so weary of the "W" word. True, virtually any object can be used as a weapon; however, a baseball bat can also be used to hit a baseball, more to the point, it is its primary function. A toaster can be used to jack a jaw, but it is intended to crisp my bread. My m&p 40 could proooobably make toast if I really worked at it but it is best used for its intended primary function... Weapon. I know I am at odds with perhaps a majority here, it's just my 2¢. Of course, if I am acting in a professional setting in which protocol prohibits this word I will adhere as I have already agreed to do so.

Surfer

[MoJo]

There are some good points both Pro and Con. Our "plastic" is a Concealed Handgun License not a Concealed Weapon License. I don't carry a weapon I carry a handgun that can be used as a protective handgun or as a recreational handgun or as a paper weight if I am at home. There are so many negative connotations to the word "weapon" that I choose not to use it except when talking or writing about the toys our military have. YMMV

[gigag04]

Changing the wording isn't fooling anyone...anti's included (or especially).

[Abraham]

In the Army my rifle was my: Rifle, Weapon or Piece - If one is feeling P.C., Piece sounds warm and fuzzy...

[rotor]

I think that a concealed handgun is a weapon. I don't carry it around to use as a hammer. I don't carry it for target shooting. I don't even like the burden of carrying but it is a defensive weapon. My shotgun is not a weapon as I use it only for trap or skeet therefore it is a fun tool. I don't hunt with it. I have many guns, some are weapons, some are for fun, some are for potential hunting, some I just like to own. But my concealed carry is a weapon.

[Pawpaw]

Other than that, I couldn't care any less what some Anti thinks it should be called; I don't go to the willfully pig-ignorant and uninformed for gun advice.

Andy, you've got to stop holding back and tell us how you really feel. (FWIW, I agree 1000%.)

It is a weapon, plain and simple. A weapon can be used for good or for evil. That choice is in the user's hands.

The anti's weapon of choice is the pen. Because we pussyfoot around "the W word" and other PC nonsense distractions, they are bludgeoning us to death with that weapon.

[Middle Age Russ]

Personally I try to use pistol, rifle, shotgun. If speaking in general terms I'll use firearm or (less frequently) gun. If we control the terminology, we can take control of the debate.

I agree wholeheartedly with this. My wife and I volunteer as Texas 4-H Pistol Coaches and conduct Safety Trainings for the county. 4-H is a bit stricter than the NRA with respect to using the "W" word -- we try to never use the word at all except for mentioning in the Safety classes that it won't be used later and why. In 4-H shooting sports, we are trying to evangelize a bit, and want to avoid as many negative impressions as possible to hopefully open minds. We want kids and families involved and enjoying the shooting sports, and that means getting past certain biases by stressing discipline, safety, character, responsibility and other positive attributes while minimizing the use of arms in an anti-personnel manner.

[jimlongley]

A long time ago the NRA went on a campaign to eliminate "gun" as a generic term for a firearm, as a gun has a strict definition that includes smooth bore and such, but it never really took hold (it may have just been an opinion piece in the Rifleman) and today just about everyone calls all firearms guns. I draw some interesting looks, at times, when I talk with friends and acquaintances and refer to my firearms, variously, as: "my gun"; "my pistol"; "my rifle"; and my revolver", there are differences and I try, myself, to follow the definitions properly.

But sometimes it's just to easy to slip into the generic "guns."

Although this does give me an idea about another comment to the "Moms" organization - does their campaign against guns mean that they are ok with my pistol, revolver, rifle, cannon, or whatever, as long as it's not a smoothbore??

[Dadtodabone]

In the Army my rifle was my: Rifle, Weapon or Piece - If one is feeling P.C., Piece sounds warm and fuzzy...

I see what you did there....