When you hear the word ‘gun’, what do you think of? Depending on your political leanings, you may think of very different things. If you absolutely abhor guns of every type, shape and form, you probably only envision an object that kills innocent families and children. At the other end of the spectrum, you may envision a tool for empowerment, self-defense, hunting or sport. What if I had asked you the same question about ‘firearm’? Odd enough, the answer might be a little different.
Both words describe the very same inanimate object; the difference is the emotional tie to the word ‘gun’. Of course, there are many different terms that also describe the very same objects. Firearms, guns, arms and weapons are generic terms whereas pistol, revolver, rifles, shotgun, or hog leg are more specific. Some, such as ‘weapon’ are positively associated with military or police service. It is also negatively associated as belonging to a class of objects supposedly too dangerous for the public to own as the politically defined ‘assault weapon’ or ‘assault style weapon’.
Look at how those opposed to Second Amendment rights and ordinary citizens owning and carrying firearms describe them. The articles they post, the speeches they give, the so-called research they present; all emphasize how dangerous and deadly ‘guns’ are. They continuously blame the deaths on “gun violence” to the point where anyone listening to the message is going to naturally associate anything ‘gun’ with ‘violence’ and ‘death’. They are trying to make the word itself synonymous with something evil and dangerous.
All of this is why many of us in this industry, myself included, prefer to use the term ‘firearm’ generally or ‘pistol’ or ‘rifle’ specifically in our discussions, writings or when we teach. The rational behind it is simple. To present the most positive images of these inanimate objects, the people who own them, and the right to do so.
If you’re thinking this is pretty damn dumb; you are of course correct. It is dumb. It’s semantics at its best and political correctness gone wild. It’s a bit insulting to think that simply using the word gun vs. firearm changes the definition of what you are talking about. But it’s also the realty of the world we live in where far too many people listen blindly to the headlines and never bother to read the fine print.
Before you think about banishing the word gun from your lexicon, understand that it isn’t as simple as using one term for another. You would be hard pressed to find a firearmsmith instead of a gunsmith or try to buy a firearm sock instead of a gun sock. I even have the ‘g’ word in my company name because other more politically correct terms just didn’t make sense.
Of course, the point that tends to get lost in all of this wordplay is what are you doing with your firearms/guns? Are you a responsible firearm owner? Do you live by the four basic firearms safety rules like your life and everyone else’s depends on it? Have you taught your children about firearm safety? Do you store your firearms safely given your life, family and living situation? Have you trained with your firearms? Do you properly maintain your firearms? Are your firearms for the defense of your life and your family’s lives?
If the answer to these questions is yes, then I don’t give a tinker’s damn what you call that thing that goes pew. You are living proof that the term means nothing. What matters is intent, and yours is steeped in American tradition, family values and the Second Amendment.
I only ask that you be aware of the context of conversations and realize that there are those who wish to use every means at their disposal to portray firearm owners – gun owners, as negatively as possible to achieve their goal of denying our Second Amendment rights, even if it is simply using the word gun vs. firearm.
Bob
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