Why are weapons not called guns?

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!":)

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

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.

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

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

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.

Go watch Full Metal Jacket. :)

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

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.

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