Political correctness

[nfafan]

Someone mentioned the term "wordsmithing" in this thread;

If anyone has noticed, over the past few years now EVERY freakin shooting that takes place anywhere in the USA is now pretty much due to a "semi-automatic" or an "assault rifle".

Not a gun, not a rifle, not a pistol - but a "semi-auto" or an "assault rifle".

The anti's, the LEOs giving the press statements, the media - they all now purposely go out of their way to emphasize these dark terms.
These are the words that send shivers up the spines of the 98% of the Harry Homeowners out there that don't know diddly-squat about guns.

All they know is what Hollyweird and the media tell them...

Guns that are "easily converted to machineguns", silenced revolvers, guns that never run out of ammo, guns fired from motorcycles with pin-point accuracy, AK rounds that merely hurt one in the shoulder, and so on.

I know folks like that, and you all know folks like that. Like it or not, not everyone we know hangs out at Bower's or PAFOA.

I know folks who can buy MG42's. LE6920s, or SCARs all day long, but could give 2-shits about gunownership, period, end of argument.

Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes fact.

Yes, it is a stupid pity-shame that we shouldn't call our EBRs "assault rifles" or "assault weapons" - but why give the anti's the gas and matches with which to burn us with?

[hornady]

I am too old to change my ways now. But many of the same reasons used hear to not use the term Weapon. Are the same used by many opposed to Open carry. Why do it. When you can just as well carry concealed. Which is more powerful. A word or an act.

[Noah_Zark]

At the University of Parris Island in 1972 the terms "rifle" and "weapon" were used interchangeably. Since habits acquired at Parris Island die extremely hard, I use the terms interchangeably. Nobody likes it, they can tune me out.

To quote the late Nobel-winning physicist Richard Feynmann, "What do you care what other people think?"

Noah

[nfafan]

<snip>

To quote the late Nobel-winning physicist Richard Feynmann, "What do you care what other people think?"

Noah

He sat in a lab all day, he can get away with saying that as no one is constantly working on plans on trying to ban his beakers and test-tubes.

In the real world, we need to sway the hearts and minds of the everyday folks. Kinda like what the anti's have done to get "Lost and stolen" ordinances passed in every 'effin hamlet in PA.

Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes accepted fact. Stretching the truth becomes the new truth.

I'm not worried about winning some fuzz-headed Sally Field-fan over to my side, just making sure the house-frau down the street doesn't freak when she drives by in her minivan full of rugrats and I'm pulling a rifle case from my trunk.

[mudlust]

Terms have different meanings as time goes by. What may be politically correct today can be taboo tomorrow.

I remember as a child the polite way to describe people of african decent was to call them "colored". One day while sitting at a local pub a FedEx driver came in looking for directions to a nearby business. The bartender gave him instruction to continue on down the road and turn at the second church. Using the churches as waypoints, he described the churches as, "the first church is a catholic church but you want to turn right after the colored church." He meant nothing by it and the FedEx driver understood his directions and continued about his business. The front door had barely shut when the agitated voice of a middle-aged black patron asked "What color are they?". The bartender looked somewhat confused for a second and said," I don't know - somewhere between brown and black."

The point I'm trying to make is that no matter how polite your intentions are, some subjects are always going to be scrutinized by others. If someone gets all bent out of shape by something I say or the way I word it, thats just tough shit for them. I'm sick of having to tip-toe around everyones feelings and although I may say "I'm sorry you feel that way" I refuse to appologize for anything I say or do that is without malicious intent.

mudlust

[Hokkmike]

Already mentioned but guns are a subset of weapons.

Pistols, revolvers, rifles are a subset of guns.

Assault rifles a subset of rifles.

Etc.

Appeasment to anti's is akin to giving a crockodile just a little of your leg to start with for his breakfast.

[nfafan]

Already mentioned but guns are a subset of weapons.

Pistols, revolvers, rifles are a subset of guns.

Assault rifles a subset of rifles.

Etc.

Appeasment to anti's is akin to giving a crockodile just a little of your leg to start with for his breakfast.

From an online dictionary;

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/weapon

–noun

1.any instrument or device for use in attack or defense in combat, fighting, or war, as a sword, rifle, or cannon.

2.anything used against an opponent, adversary, or victim: the deadly weapon of satire.

3.Zoology. any part or organ serving for attack or defense, as claws, horns, teeth, or stings.

–verb (used with object)

4.to supply or equip with a weapon or weapons: to weapon aircraft with heat-seeking missiles.

So;

I'd bet that 99.99999999% of us PAFOAns don't use our ARs, AKs, Remingtons, whatever; as an instrument or device for use in attack or defense in combat, fighting, or war - beyond plinking at the range or taking game.

Further: "anything used against an opponent, adversary, or victim" - this could be a knife, Louisville Slugger, or broom. But when you constantly refer to to your Rugers as weapons. Well... you did it to yourself.

And this is not appeasement in any way to the anti-gun crowd. I don't know about the rest of yins, but it has to be at least 2 days since an anti-gun type walked up to me and said "please don't use the word weapon anymore because it hurts my ears and then my face breaks out".

But it IS a matter of using and choosing words carefully.

You wouldn't talk the same way when visiting your kid's school at open house like you would do at the range, golf course, or gun show with your ex-GI buddies.

Its not PC or appeasement; it's just common sense.

[Roostmonkey]

Firearms were invented to kill, making them a weapon. Baseball bats were invented to hit balls, but could be used as a weapon, as could anything else of material substance. You don't hear little league coaches telling kids to swing their weapon.

[hornady]

Its not PC or appeasement; it's just common sense.
__________________

The part of this equation that is missing when dealing with anti –gun people is Common sense. This morning on Fox news. A father in New Jersey, Who owns Constitution firearm’s. Wanted to sponsor His sons Little League team. He was denied. And told the name was offensive. He offered to change the Name. This too was not good enough. He ended up sponsoring a youth rugby team. Also someone earlier had made the comment winning the Hearts and Minds. Well over 40 years ago. The pacifist in this Country, Came up with this term in South East Asia. I know I’m getting old but I don’t remember that working out very well either.

[billt]

When discussing guns, I always try and use the most politically incorrect terms humanly possible. For no other reason just to simply agitate. Liberalism, along with Hussein and his socialist agenda, are dieing a slow, agonizing death. So why not help by placing a stick in eye?

When asked by a liberal why I own guns, I simply say "Because they are the most efficient way of killing yet devised by man." That left most of the mouths hanging open at the table of this years Christmas party! I always say things like this with a smile, it increases the effect.

One of the guys asked me of all the guns I have which was my favorite, I replied the AK-47 without question. Mikhail Kalashnikov was a genius of the first order. It is the most cost effective way of killing the opposition yet devised! As always, when asked what kind of message that was sending to our young people I say, Hopefully one that will give them some balls, instead of the worthless, liberal, pussies our colleges and universities are graduating today, who don't possess the skill or net worth to purchase a house without crashing the economy.

Let's face it, we might as well have a little fun with these idiot's. We've waited long enough for the opportunity. Bill T.