Why are weapons not called guns?

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 14:08:51 -0500

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 27 at 2015 2:15 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 14:15:52 -0500

SPC Margaret Higgins I do not consider your question to be naive.
In the military guns are sometimes associated with field guns which are a type of artillery.
There are weapons which use kinetic energy such as rifles, machine and sub-machine guns and pistols and revolvers. There are weapons which are held in the hand such as combat knives and sometimes bayonets.
Similar to the navy referring to vessels as either ships of vessels - they tend to cringe if you call a naval vessel a boat.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 2:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 14:26:19 -0500

Gun is a type of weapon, sword is also a weapon. Like a car, plane truck and train are all types of vehicles. Thats the way I see it anyway.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Dec 27 at 2015 3:32 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 15:32:56 -0500

"Why are weapons not called guns?"
I truly do not understand what you're asking with this question..
However,
Simple Definition of weapon
: something (such as a gun, knife, club, or bomb) that is used for fighting or attacking someone or for defending yourself when someone is attacking you
If you are looking for a literal response, than, All guns CAN BE weapons, but not all guns ARE weapons.
If you're looking for something else out of this discussion you'll need to be a bit less cryptic general and limited in your question

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 4:11 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:11:16 -0500

A gun is a specific type of weapon, which is just a general category. A baseball bat, knife, car, stick or rock can all be called weapons. All of the above items, to include guns as well as many other items, are all tools but they can be misused or inappropriately operated in the form of a weapon.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 27 at 2015 4:58 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:58:33 -0500

I'll pile on LTC Stephen F. 's comment. Besides the definition differences there's a significant cultural and performance aspect to "weapon". A weapon is something you must learn to be competent with and use only on proper orders and within the Rules of Engagement. We expect our MILs to know and properly maintain and use weapons appropriately. Don't get too wrapped around the axle on vessels and ships. Our new Zumwalt Destroyer is longer and heavier than the WW-2 cruisers and will actually fill the role of the old Battleship in the Naval Fire Support role which was reduced. So besides all the vertical launch and other weapons systems, it's two 155mm guns are equivalent to a battery of six Army 155s. Now don't get me going on frigates which were built larger than destroyers.....

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Dec 27 at 2015 5:31 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 17:31:02 -0500

Weapons or Weaponry is the entire set of Arms, whereas Guns, is a subset of said class. So although all guns can be considered weapons, not all weapons are guns. As others have said, knives, swords, etc.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 5:37 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 17:37:29 -0500

Do they still teach basic trainees that poem of "this is my weapon, and this is my gun; my weapon's for killing and my gun is for fun" when they tell them never to call their rifle a "gun"? Something tells me probably not.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 6:51 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 18:51:54 -0500

i'm am applolgizing in advance go to the movie platoon " this is my weapon this my gun one is for pleasure and one is for fun" but to be more correct guns are artillery and naval where weapons are what you persopnnally carry into combat

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 7:09 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 19:09:00 -0500

I consider all "guns" to be Weapons, because they still fall under the category of being Weapons. I, personally, find the word "guns" to just be used to classify the type of weapon, but it is commonly used in the Media as something used to terrorize people, which is why I don't like the use of the word "gun". To sum up, Weapons are, by definition, "A weapon, arm, or armament is any device used with intent to inflict damage or harm to living beings, structures, or systems.", but "guns are just a lower classification of a TYPE of weapon. By calling all weapons "guns", you are making yourself seem rather naive.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Dec 27 at 2015 9:01 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 21:01:34 -0500

Like others responding to this, I'm assuming that by "weapons" you are referring to firearms: Rifles, pistols, et al. In the broadest sense all are guns.

gun
ɡən/
noun
1.
a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are propelled by explosive force, typically making a characteristic loud, sharp noise.
synonyms: firearm, pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, carbine, automatic, handgun, semiautomatic, machine gun, Uzi; More

However, "gun" is too imprecise for military or police use. Thus, those who work with "guns" tend to use more descriptive terms. Knowing what you are up against can save lives.

Response by MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht made Dec 27 at 2015 9:03 PM

MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 21:03:50 -0500

What a question. why don't we call oranges tomatoes?

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Dec 27 at 2015 9:33 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 21:33:11 -0500

I realize that to some, this is a "dumb" question. Maybe even idiotic. However, the only dumb question: is the one not asked.
If I knew the answer to this question, I would not have asked it.

Response by PV2 Scott Goodpasture made Dec 28 at 2015 12:09 AM

PV2 Scott Goodpasture — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 00:09:06 -0500

um uh this is my weapon, this is my gun. It's a guy thing just go with it

Response by SGT William Howell made Dec 28 at 2015 6:20 AM

SGT William Howell — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 06:20:40 -0500

Guns are not weapons. Guns are tools. I have made it a point throughout my career in law enforcement and the military to not call "firearms" weapons.

When I travel overseas I always carry a Cross ink pen with small strips of skateboard tape on it. It is great tool if I need to stab somebody. Nobody questions it at the airport. Why? Because it is pen. I'll use it as a weapon, but when I am done it is a pen. The same can be said for a gun. The only difference is it starts out as a tool for for protection.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 7:09 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 07:09:19 -0500

weapons kills and injury people in anyway it maybe possible or design to.

guns? kills and injury people with bullets shooting out. That is the different. :) lol

Response by PO2 Ron Burling made Dec 28 at 2015 10:08 AM

PO2 Ron Burling — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 10:08:54 -0500

Because 'guns' is how you address a Gunners mate? Seriously, I think that might be because not all weapons are "guns".

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 10:28 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 10:28:07 -0500

A gun, by common military definition, is generally accepted as a large bore, crew served weapon. This includes smooth bore and rifled cannons and artillery pieces (and naval "guns"). A weapon is something man portable. True, weapons can be crew served, but they are not "large bore". Mortar systems are admittedly a gray area and have been referred to as gun-mortars in the past (talking a few hundred years).

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Dec 28 at 2015 11:15 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 11:15:42 -0500

Lots of good comments here aleready on the general definitions. The Marine Corps specific penchant for calling firearms especially individual arms 'weapons' and sometimes more specific names "rifle" "pistol" etc. probably arises out of a desire for specificity and clarity. Artillery pieces, howitzers, are called "guns" so are machine guns for more rapid speech, I would hazard a guess the Corps instituted this lexical difference to make it clear when a Sgt tells a LCpl "Go get on your gun" the LCpl will know the Sgt means the Machinegun rather than the rifle.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Dec 28 at 2015 11:16 AM

SFC Pete Kain — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 11:16:26 -0500

I think guns are crew served, weapons are used by an individual, shotguns are...special.
It was also a great way for D.S.'s to mess with new recruits.
But there are exceptions to everything.

Response by LTC David Brown made Dec 28 at 2015 11:23 AM

LTC David Brown — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 11:23:48 -0500

Nomenclature is interesting. I have no idea. weapon can cover any thing from a fire pace poker to a nuclear bomb. Gun seem to refer specifically to kinetic weapons with propelled projectiles. There is also the language of the art. The military seems to have chosen "weapon" as the language of the military for soldier issued guns. So now I think we are following precedence and not wanting to appear as an outsider "Maintain your WEAPON soldier" is clearly understood by military members not to mean "your fire place poker needs to be polished".

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Dec 28 at 2015 1:45 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 13:45:39 -0500

SPC Margaret Higgins Artillery weapons
Are called guns.small arms are called weapons.

Response by CW3 Jim Norris made Dec 28 at 2015 2:36 PM

CW3 Jim Norris — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 14:36:31 -0500

a gun is a device that uses chemical propellants to fire a projectile at a target. Anything can be a weapon - a handful of sand, a rock, a tree branch can be 'weaponized'.....to quote Truman, 'all horse thieves are democrats, but not all democrats are horse thieves'......all sticks and stones can break your bones - but not all will.

Response by MAJ Jim Steven made Dec 28 at 2015 4:24 PM

MAJ Jim Steven — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 16:24:24 -0500

it sounds to me like no one really seems to know why we are INSTRUCTED to call it a weapon and not a gun....

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Dec 30 at 2015 12:58 AM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 00:58:59 -0500

It's probably more of a Military Culture or "ism". I think you are probabaly refering to the practice of Drill Instructors/ Drill Sergeants jumping down recruit's throats for calling their rifle a "gun". There are plenty of "guns" in the military, and the term is actually used to describe them.
In Artillery and Mortars the term "gun" is accepted, and sometimes in Machine Gun sections. In general when refering to automatic weapons or individual weapons the model weapon (or caliber) is used in describing it, such as M16, Mk19, 240G, SAW, 50 cal or M203

Response by Katheryn Sato made Dec 30 at 2015 1:51 AM

Katheryn Sato — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 01:51:19 -0500

I have been shooting since I was five years old. After college I sought the best professional training I could in defensive (tactikewl wasn't coined yet) shooting (really any kind of survival from primitive woods through unarmed - everything) shooting, by mid-80s I was one of the ass't instructors and so on. I've seen something which must confuse soldiers and vets regularly. Starting from basic because you'll be a professional soldier who's main tool will be a battle rifle, it has to be called a weapon. (I realize after MOS 11B one's toolbox gets more filled haha). Meanwhile within our country where people can't even see our castle walls and huge moat - anyone can live a safe life protected by the guardians both outside and those inside. I saw the changes where a knowledge and expertise with arms went from something you could be proud of to something our Entertainment Industry presented as something only a raging psychopath would ever want. I'm sure you know about the media created 'Assault Weapon' history. Incredible to what lengths people get brainwashed including news flashes about homicides which may even be vehicular but you'll see an icon of a revolver/pistol shown. Using "weapons" for guns by the antis and the media to emphasize their twist. Funny aside. I've always had military friends because for various reasons I understand them more than most here do. When I'd go shooting or hunting (and Aerospace hires a lot of vets) I have the oddest mix of buzzwords and phrases from the different branches. Any time I hear the word gun? Mentally I hear "Ships have guns!":)

Response by SSG Delanda Hunt made Dec 30 at 2015 1:08 PM

SSG Delanda Hunt — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:08:56 -0500

Who cares, this is not relevant.

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Dec 31 at 2015 8:58 AM

SP5 Joel O'Brien — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 08:58:01 -0500

While there have been many definitions posted here about what constitutes a 'gun', we need to also define 'weapon.' I offer the inclusion of propaganda as a weapon. The saying "The pen is mightier than the sword" can be true in many cases. Media such as print and broadcast(Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Rose) can be used as weapons too.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2015 11:17 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 11:17:51 -0500

Go watch Full Metal Jacket. :)