Firearms/Weapons...us and Them.

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CAVHUNT

Well-Known Member
Just for a friendly chat. Unsurprisingly I have noticed a difference in terminology between Oz and the TSD/UK for the same subject matter. Nothing wrong/unusual with that but...there is one which is common place and normal to you guys on TSD/UK but to us in Aussie land it is unacceptable. I refer to the use of the term "weapon" when discussing hunting/shooting recreational type matters.
In general daily use we use the term "firearm" or "gun/rifle/shotty etc" but never "weapon".

The reason for this is that "weapons" are used by police, armed forces etc legally against people and the term in this context is okay. Sadly "weapons" are also used by criminals, terrorists, illegal gun traffickers etc to intimidate, maim and kill people illegally.

When us legal recreational shooters use the term "weapon" the public and the media instantly link us with those who use guns illegally against people as described above.

The term "firearm" is a benign term and establishes a clear divide in peoples...and the media... minds between us recreational gun users and the illegally armed criminal elements.

Anyway...thought I'd mention it just as an interesting quirk.
 
@CAVHUNT

I think words matter.

I prefer 'firearm/rifle/gun'.


Apropos words.

I find the use of the word "Shotty" offensive to the English (yes I know you speak an antipodean version of it) language; as offensive as the incorrect terminology to describe ammunition parts. You know who you are...


images.jpeg😇
 
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Weapon carries a certain connotation. It's not generally how law abiding firearm and shotgun certificate holders here tend to refer to their guns (for sake of one encompassing term in this instance). Perhaps the terminology is employed more amongst those in or ex services, I couldn't say.
In terms of grammar, a weapon can be anything designed or used for inflicting bodily harm or physical damage.
Now, shorten permission to perm, and I'm gritting my teeth somefink awful.....
 
I only ever try to use firearm generally, or if I’m being more specific shotgun, rifle, revolver etc. As has been mentioned, a weapon is anything used to inflict harm, generally on another human.
 
I think it sometimes depends on who I am talking to. mostly I do not use the term firearm, but describe the item ie rifles/shotgun or weapon. But that is probably due to 17 years military time where I did weapon handling, annual personal weapons test, etc etc and weapon was the term for rifles.

When chatting to Police colleagues who were not military I talked about firearms legislation. Partly as the view in the job then was if a civilian called it a weapon, was it indicating a mindset regarding it?
 
The correct terminologies are good reasons for firearms, under no circumstances do we need weapons, if your FLD/FEO uses the incorrect ones point them back in the right direction. Similarly HO Guidance claims that firearms ownership is a "privilege not a right" however as such it is a privilege enforceable by law as a right if you have to use the appeals procedure and the court orders it so, the FLD has no option but to comply.
 
CAVHUNT said:
Just for a friendly chat. Unsurprisingly I have noticed a difference in terminology between Oz and the TSD/UK for the same subject matter. Nothing wrong/unusual with that but...there is one which is common place and normal to you guys on TSD/UK but to us in Aussie land it is unacceptable. I refer to the use of the term "weapon" when discussing hunting/shooting recreational type matters.
In general daily use we use the term "firearm" or "gun/rifle/shotty etc" but never "weapon".

The reason for this is that "weapons" are used by police, armed forces etc legally against people and the term in this context is okay. Sadly "weapons" are also used by criminals, terrorists, illegal gun traffickers etc to intimidate, maim and kill people illegally.

When us legal recreational shooters use the term "weapon" the public and the media instantly link us with those who use guns illegally against people as described above.

The term "firearm" is a benign term and establishes a clear divide in peoples...and the media... minds between us recreational gun users and the illegally armed criminal elements.

Anyway...thought I'd mention it just as an interesting quirk.
Click to expand...
I had a conversation with a chap a few weeks ago who dropped the word "weapon" in quite a lot, he was chatting about applying for a
FAC and reeled off a list of "weapons" to put on it. (target shooter)
I pointed out the wording on his for now virtual FAC will have his "weapons" listed as rifles (disclaimer just check my FAC and they are listed as rifles):rofl: It came to a close when he mentioned the NRA and I said "don't" you mean NWA National Weapons Association

SD has a sales section (and rules) however if some poor soul mentions "heads" outside the sales section then the death by a thousands cuts chopping of body parts spleen venting gang chip in with various diagrams listing terms to keep them happy.

BUT come to the sales section with a sale listing "heads" they follow the rules despite chewing their finger nails and sticking pins in a voodoo doll of the poster.🏴‍☠️

On the flip side the form name filling for girls/women in Oz/Nz must be easy starting with S as you call them all Shelia🤣

noun
informal• Australian and New Zealand English

  1. a girl or woman.
 
I don't know where the O.P. got this idea from. I have been around everything from air pistols to punt guns and C.F. rifles for all my long life. "Firearm" is a useful term but in everyday use it is "gun" or "rifle". Maybe "piece" for collectors/trade. Lightheartedly "bangstick" and an old great uncle who had served out east "bundook". Someone might say "bring that deadly weapon here, boy" to a kid with his first Daisy but not in everyday usage.
 
Basil H said:
I don't know where the O.P. got this idea from. I have been around everything from air pistols to punt guns and C.F. rifles for all my long life. "Firearm" is a useful term but in everyday use it is "gun" or "rifle". Maybe "piece" for collectors/trade. Lightheartedly "bangstick" and an old great uncle who had served out east "bundook". Someone might say "bring that deadly weapon here, boy" to a kid with his first Daisy but not in everyday usage.
Click to expand...
To be fair a few of the serving lads who take up stalking refer them as "weapons" for a while normally in their intro but it soon drops off.
My Dad used to say " you can call me a **** but not an old ****" bless him
 
The only users of "weapon" refering to firearms used by the general public in the UK are the police, the home office and a very few misguided people. I guess the police like to use it to make the tools we use look like something that should be taken away?

The the Home Office Guidance on Firearms Licencing is full of its use.

A weapon is used to hurt people or a euphemistic term for something else.
 
Complains about terminology then uses the word “ Shotty” ffs

I hate that almost as much as “XL Bully” !!!
 
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