Guns: Weapons or Tools?

[Bodi]

A gun can be many things, including a hunk of steel and a keepsake handed down through the ages.

What was its original intended purpose... did you even read the OP?

 

[Common Sense 1]

These needs to be a forth choice
#4) This is a stupid poll

Thank you so much for the forth option.
I vote for choice #4.

 

[Bodi]

It is. I am not sure I would want to even buy any meat at the grocery store if it wasn't.

Read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair and you will understand why there is an FDA.

 

[Bodi]

What's your definition of a tool?

Most anything can be a "tool" and that is why I made the clarification that I did... what is the original intended purpose for inventing it.

 

[jdog21]

Both. The early versions were blunt sticks or sticks with rocks on them. Used to grind grain or food, kill animals or hammer a person's head.

Isnt the gun a tool to fill animals?

 

[d0gbreath]

Most anything can be a "tool" and that is why I made the clarification that I did... what is the original intended purpose for inventing it.

Oh OK, it's a weapon. duh

 

[cpwill]

Is there a point in there?

How can there be a point on a basketball, bodi? The lack of point is the very point thereof.

 

[Bodi]

Isnt the gun a tool to fill animals?

Originally it was designed to kill humans.


"They quickly learned the powder could be used in warfare. The then-reigning Song Dynasty is the first to have used gunpowder against the Mongols, whose constant invasions into the country plagued the Chinese throughout the period.

The Chinese attacked the Mongols with fire lances or "flying fire" — arrows fixed with tubes of gunpowder that, when ignited, would propel across enemy lines. More gunpowder-based weapons followed as the Chinese perfected a variety of weapons against the Mongols over the next centuries, including the first cannons and grenades.

By 1350, rudimentary gunpowder cannons were commonplace in the English and French militaries, who used the explosive technology against each other during the Hundred Years' War.

As the centuries continued, new and improved cannons were designed, many of which were small and portable. Eventually the hand cannon was developed in the early 15th century; it was the first real personal firearm. The Ottoman Turks used these and other cannons during the successful siege of Constantinople in 1453. The powerful new weapons essentially rendered traditional walled fortifications of Europe defenseless.

Invention of the Modern Handgun​

Historians generally consider the Chinese fire lance as the first gun. But before the 15th century, guns were tricky to fire — they required both hands and a burning wick to ignite the powder."

When Were Guns Invented? A Brief History of Guns

The first gun was created more than 1,000 years ago, effectively changing warfare — and society — in incomprehensible ways. But do we know who actually made the first firearm?

science.howstuffworks.com

 

[Bodi]

How can there be a point on a basketball, bodi? The lack of point is the very point thereof.

Microscopic...

 

[jdog21]

Originally it was designed to kill humans.


"They quickly learned the powder could be used in warfare. The then-reigning Song Dynasty is the first to have used gunpowder against the Mongols, whose constant invasions into the country plagued the Chinese throughout the period.

The Chinese attacked the Mongols with fire lances or "flying fire" — arrows fixed with tubes of gunpowder that, when ignited, would propel across enemy lines. More gunpowder-based weapons followed as the Chinese perfected a variety of weapons against the Mongols over the next centuries, including the first cannons and grenades.

By 1350, rudimentary gunpowder cannons were commonplace in the English and French militaries, who used the explosive technology against each other during the Hundred Years' War.

As the centuries continued, new and improved cannons were designed, many of which were small and portable. Eventually the hand cannon was developed in the early 15th century; it was the first real personal firearm. The Ottoman Turks used these and other cannons during the successful siege of Constantinople in 1453. The powerful new weapons essentially rendered traditional walled fortifications of Europe defenseless.

Invention of the Modern Handgun​

Historians generally consider the Chinese fire lance as the first gun. But before the 15th century, guns were tricky to fire — they required both hands and a burning wick to ignite the powder."

When Were Guns Invented? A Brief History of Guns

The first gun was created more than 1,000 years ago, effectively changing warfare — and society — in incomprehensible ways. But do we know who actually made the first firearm?

science.howstuffworks.com

A bow and arrow where invented to kill humans too

 

[Lursa]

What was its original intended purpose... did you even read the OP?

And here's that answer, previously posted:

To protect families and homes. ​

​

To wage war to protect resources and territory. To kill for food. This has been necessary since all of prehistory.​

​

The gun was designed as better technology to PROTECT people and keep them alive. The need had always been there and man had always designed weapons to protect themselves and those things.​

​

So should man not have invented a better tool as a means of protection? For getting food? Yes? No? If no, why not?​

​

Guns provide valid protection, true to their design and purpose, just like any other weapons that man created for the same purpose, before and since the invention of firearms?​

​

Here's a quick example for you:​

​

Nice neighborhood in Seattle, an attacker climbed up to a balcony, entered thru sliding glass doors, with an ax. The husband went and got his handgun and drove the attacker from the apt. He protected his family with a firearm, and didnt even need to fire it.​

Other tools designed for protection: pepper spray, alarms, fire extinguishers, etc.

 

[Bodi]

A bow and arrow where invented to kill humans too

Yes. It is a weapon.

If there were such a thing as a Bow and Arrow Nutter like we see these Gun Nutters they would be arguing that the Bow and Arrow is not a weapon. It can be used to send messages or target shoot. That argument would be just as stupid as the ones that Gun Nutters are making..

 

[Bum]

The OP?

Bad Poster....bad!

 

[VanceMack]

Aside form the obvious relationship to the OP...

is THIS a weapon or a tool?

How about this?

Or this?

 

[RF667799]

Bulldozers are not even street legal and need to be registered with the government. TYRANNYYYYYYYYY!!!!!

Bulldozers are registered with the government? News to me. What do you mean by street legal? It usually refers to something that can be registered for regular use on public roads. So no, you can't register a bulldozer for that sort of use. Though depending on circumstance, you can use it on public roads.

Anyway, were you gratified to discover that there are numerous laws regulating the manufacture, sale, and use of firearms?

 

[MrNiceGuy]

Or a different way to look at it is that if there were not guns Russia would not have invaded Ukraine to begin with.

You think there were no invasions before guns?

 

[jdog21]

Yes. It is a weapon.

If there were such a thing as a Bow and Arrow Nutter like we see these Gun Nutters they would be arguing that the Bow and Arrow is not a weapon. It can be used to send messages or target shoot. That argument would be just as stupid as the ones that Gun Nutters are making..

Ok. Is there a problem with people owning weapons?

 

[ataraxia]

Bulldozers are registered with the government? News to me. What do you mean by street legal? It usually refers to something that can be registered for regular use on public roads. So no, you can't register a bulldozer for that sort of use. Though depending on circumstance, you can use it on public roads.

Tyranyyyyyyy!

Anyway, were you gratified to discover that there are numerous laws regulating the manufacture, sale, and use of firearms?

Sure. But not near enough.

 

[ataraxia]

Ok. Is there a problem with people owning weapons?

No- with regulation appropriate to the potential hazard the equipment poses- it’s no different than any other potentially hazardous equipment.

 

[The Mark]

This really upsets gun nutters... not gun owners in general, but the ones that don't care about anything as much as caressing their guns loving as they stroke oil onto their weapons that were designed to kill people better... so you can win wars. Pretty simple.

In this argument, are guns WEAPONS or are the TOOLS?

Remember... anything can be used as a tool or for something that it was not intended to when designed. I tried explaining how we used our claw foot tub as a planter for an herb garden... but that is not what it was designed for. A car can be used to kill people but it was designed to move people about... not to kill.

Definition of gun​

(Entry 1 of 2)
1a: a piece of ordnance usually with high muzzle velocity and comparatively flat trajectory
b: a portable firearm (such as a rifle or handgun)

Definition of GUN

a piece of ordnance usually with high muzzle velocity and comparatively flat trajectory; a portable firearm (such as a rifle or handgun); a device that throws a projectile… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

Definition of firearm​

: a weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder —usually used of small arms

Definition of FIREARM

a weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder —usually used of small arms… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

Definition of weapon​

(Entry 1 of 2)
1: something (such as a club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy
2: a means of contending against another

Definition of WEAPON

something (such as a club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy; a means of contending against another… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

It all depends how you apply them.

Generally speaking, most if not all firearms were designed as weapons, but there are tools which use some of the same tech, and in a few cases firearms could be used as a tool.
Things like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powder-actuated_tool aren't really a firearm, but use some of the same tech.

 

[Luce]

Weapons ARE tools.

 

[jdog21]

No- with regulation appropriate to the potential hazard the equipment poses- it’s no different than any other potentially hazardous equipment.

With what regulation? What you may deem appropriate others may deem unnecessary. If we both agree on its a tool to kill then we are both already recognizing its potential hazards.

 

[Bodi]

You think there were no invasions before guns?

Everybody got along before guns...

 

[Lursa]

Weapons ARE tools.

Good luck with that.

 

[Bodi]

Ok. Is there a problem with people owning weapons?

Obviously... lots of innocent people are killed with them.