The "W" word and it's connotations.

[MoJo]

When I took my first NRA instructor class the training counselor would make us avoid the "W" word (weapon) and had all of us flashing a "gang sign" (3 fingers making a w) when we heard it. He told us that whenever a non gun person hears a gun called a weapon it will reinforce the "evil" perception of guns.

Guns are tools just like hammers, screwdrivers and wrenches. Does the carpenter tell his helper go get my weapon when he wants a claw hammer? A mechanic doesn't ask for a 3/4" open end weapon, nor does an electrician take out a Phillips weapon.

Let's start calling them what they are "gun" "rifle" "shotgun" "pistol" before they are all so demonized that all we have for personal protection is a Louisville Slugger "Weapon"

[StewNTexas]

I agree.

Last night on TV one of the guys giving out info about the initial contact with Chris Dorner mentioned that he was first engaged with a PATROL RIFLE.

Nobody mentioned a AR-15 or a Black Rifle. For the last few weeks I have been calling them Modern Muskets, but Patrol Rifle works too.

[fickman]

I typically use "firearm", "rifle", "handgun", "shotgun", "revolver", "1911", or directly refer to the make and model e.g. "Sig", "Kimber", "XD", etc. with one exception (listed below).

I try to avoid words with negative (or loaded) connotations like "weapon", "Glock", and "assault". I don't use "pistol" just because I've never liked it (no logical reason. . . just a pet peeve.).

Similarly, I intend to "stop a threat", not to "warn", "injure", or "kill".

Words matter.

[longtooth]

I sure am glad I work for SELF.
To much to remember keepin everyone else from haven a ear tingle.

[stroo]

Interesting. My first instructor told us not to call them guns because people had bad perceptions of guns but to call them weapons because people didn't understand that word as well. I would prefer to call them what they are - gun, pistol, rifle, revolver.

[howdy]

If I recall correctly from my CHL Instructor class, we were told to not use "weapon" because it had an offensive connotation. They preferred "handgun, rifle", etc.

[TexasCajun]

I agree that words matter. I have stopped using the AW term, gunman, shooter, etc in public as matter of personal choice. I don't like the terms that the anti's made up in order to demonize a specific class of rifle. I also don't like how the media tries to politicize tragic events by framing them in terms of the means used to inflict harm. I don't want to pile onto the overused gun-drunk driving analogy, but it really does fit here. When the media reports on someone who drinks too much then gets behind the wheel & hurts another person/people, they don't call that person a carman or a vehicular assaulter. In reporting such a situation, they use phrases that describe the objectionable actions, aka drunk driver, intoxicated driver. We as proponents of the Second Amendment need to quit using THEIR terms and frame our arguments in OUR terms.

BTW, I think that the pressure to be more pc has been one of the main forces driving this country into the preverbial ditch. The idea that we have to practically reinvent the English language so somebody doesn't get their feathers ruffled kinda makes me sick to my stomach. So I really don't care if it sets off someone's oversensitivity meter if I used the soon-to-become-dreaded W word. But I do think that we should be smarter when presenting our case to the uninformed, especially in areas where the conversation may be overheard (or comparable).

[Abraham]

Sorry, I can't be politically correct to appease the pansiness of the general public.

In the Army, we called them weapons, rifle, piece, but NEVER guns.

Does the word weapon cause some to quiver?

Grow up.

It (rifle, pistol, shotgun) ARE weapons.

The word doesn't mean they're evil.

Get over it.

If I make a fist, my hand is a weapon.

So what?

Grow up.

[G26ster]

Sorry, I can't be politically correct to appease the pansiness of the general public.

In the Army, we called them weapons, rifle, piece, but NEVER guns.

Does the word weapon cause some to quiver?

Grow up.

It (rifle, pistol, shotgun) ARE weapons.

The word doesn't mean they're evil.

Get over it.

If I make a fist, my hand is a weapon.

So what?

Grow up.

I agree, they're all weapons. However, they're also guns, depending on their nature. I flew GUN-ships, I commanded a GUN platoon, I was a 81MM GUN-ner at one time, also I was a 106 RR GUN-ner, the Navy has BIG GUNS, etc., we have Concealed Hand-GUN Licenses. But in the end, they're all weapons.

[Abraham]

MOS 11C10 - 81 MM Mortars, yeah I know...I was a mortarman for a time...

Also, machine-GUN, but in general we didn't refer to our rifles as GUNS...if we did, gawd help us...

[anygunanywhere]

Please. Not more of this.

Anygunanywhere.

[G26ster]

MOS 11C10 - 81 MM Mortars, yeah I know...I was a mortarman for a time...

Also, machine-GUN, but in general we didn't refer to our rifles as GUNS...if we did, gawd help us...

True, but you weren't specific to rifles, hence my post

[arod757]

Sorry, I can't be politically correct to appease the pansiness of the general public.

wholeheartedly.

[BigGuy]

http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... n+#p770626" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bitterclinger wrote:
No mam, a gun is a breach loaded artillery piece used to deploy an explosive filled shell larger than thirty millimeters in diameter at high velocities over long distances. Guys who carry guns usually use a ship, a tank, or at least a great big truck.