A question of semantics...

[llkoolkeg]

Why do we continue to allow gun banners to frame debate rigged in their favor? I enjoy language and its significance and would love to hear your suggestions for turning around the antis' favorite demonizing rhetorical phrases and terminology, e.g.:
politician => politrickster
gun control => arms ban
assault weapon => "scary" semi-auto
high capacity clips => standard magazines
reduced-capacity clips => downsized magazines
cooling-off period => mandated transfer delay
instant check system => delayed response shi+stem

I've seen some very good examples spread all over the board in other threads and was hoping to consolidate the list(if not previously done). Continuing to use damning terms for the rights, tools and freedoms we hold dear just helps perpetuate pejorative stereotypes about them. If you're not doing so already, please start calling these affronts by their more accurate, O'Malley-offending terms. Thanks a million for your recommendations and to those who participated in yesterday's opportunity to tell MD's Emperor that he wears no clothes and his naked aggression relative to our God-given & constitutionally-enumerated rights will not continue unspotlighted.

 

[Kimerazor]

Ban the term "lawmakers". This term implies they they should make more laws when in reality they should managing existing laws. Takes less than 2 months / year.

New term: "employee". They need to be reminded they work for us. They are not soecial.


NRA Life Member
SAF Life Member
GRRN Supporter

 

[Kimerazor]

There is no such thing as "gun" violence. = "violence"


NRA Life Member
SAF Life Member
GRRN Supporter

 

[RugerRedbone]

I will not have my right to ad-libbed sarcasm infringed upon by your list or any other.

 

[llkoolkeg]

There is no such thing as "gun" violence. = "violence"


NRA Life Member
SAF Life Member
GRRN Supporter

That reminds me of an old Archie Bunker "All in the Family" scene.

...as if violence committed with a gun is somehow more offensive than violence committed with a [__________]. I'm surprised they didn't ban assault rope during the hottest days of the desegregation!

 

[Rickman]

paraphrase of Laura Ingraham:

Illegal gun (read unregistered) = Undocumented firearm

 

[HKB]

The term "assault" is an act or action NOT a description of a tool/object.

Driving = privilege
Gun = right

 

[juan_galto]

Seriously, this is one of the key points where we are significantly behind. The media and anti-2A crowd have couched the conversation on terms that preclude evenhanded discussion.

For example, it's hard to say that I'm a responsible "weapon" owner when the definition of a weapon is "something (as a club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy."

If we want to overcome anti-2A efforts, we need to use language that isn't counterproductive.

 

[Hal3]

We should start making the term gun grabber commonplace, maybe tilt the debate more towards our side.

 

[llkoolkeg]

Seriously, this is one of the key points where we are significantly behind. The media and anti-2A crowd have couched the conversation on terms that preclude evenhanded discussion.

For example, it's hard to say that I'm a responsible "weapon" owner when the definition of a weapon is "something (as a club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy."

If we want to overcome anti-2A efforts, we need to use language that isn't counterproductive.

Precisely. Imagine a competitive debate or Logic 101 class discussion where such an obvious advantage was surrendered w/o a fight and carried on largely unchallenged? Many of us seemingly don't mind hopping up the down escalator blindfolded and on one foot 'cause we tend to parrot a lot of disparaging anti-firearm/2a terms!

 

[Wraith]

assault weapon => personal defense weapon, as per DHS

 

[Ab_Normal]

assault weapon => personal defense weapon, as per DHS

QFT!!

Capacitily Challenged - politically correct term for magazine holding less than 30 rds.

ie:

'The Md legislature wants us to only be able to have capacitily challenged magazines for our personal defense weapons.'

 

[juan_galto]

See, any defense- or LEO-related organization such as DHS has cause to refer to firearms as weapons, because that is why they are purchased for those organizations. When you're trained in the military, they're weapons because they're used as tools to forcefully overcome your adversaries.

Since we are law-abiding citizens who use firearms for hunting and sporting events, they are not weapons. These kinds of language disparities are extremely important and need to be considered by all of us.

 

[dogbone]

Take back the term "common sense" gun control.

Common sense tells me:

- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
- Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
- Don't touch the trigger until ready to fire.
- All the other truly common sense safety rules we know and practice.