Difference between revisions of "Gun"
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'''Guns''' are tools generally designed for firing bullets in a controlled manner. They have traditionally been used for two purposes: firing bullets at people, and threatening to fire bullets at people. Thus, a gun is considered a [[weapon]], though technically, the bullet is the weapon, unless the gun itself is used as a club, or as a spear if it has a [[bayonet]] attached. | '''Guns''' are tools generally designed for firing bullets in a controlled manner. They have traditionally been used for two purposes: firing bullets at people, and threatening to fire bullets at people. Thus, a gun is considered a [[weapon]], though technically, the bullet is the weapon, unless the gun itself is used as a club, or as a spear if it has a [[bayonet]] attached. | ||
| − | + | The three main types of firearms today are bolt-operated, semi-automatic, and automatic weapons. In a bolt-action weapon, each new round must be chambered manually, by moving the breech to eject the empty casing. In semi-automatic weapons, each pull of the trigger fires a bullet. In fully automatic weapons, bullets will be fired as long as the trigger is depressed until either the trigger is released, or the ammunition is exhausted. | |
[[Science fiction]], such as [[Star Trek]], has postulated many different types of energy weapons. These are guns that fire beams, waves, or packets of energy. Some energy guns can be set to stun, not to wound or kill. A real-life applications of this is the [[taser]]. | [[Science fiction]], such as [[Star Trek]], has postulated many different types of energy weapons. These are guns that fire beams, waves, or packets of energy. Some energy guns can be set to stun, not to wound or kill. A real-life applications of this is the [[taser]]. | ||
Revision as of 02:23, March 29, 2007
Guns are tools generally designed for firing bullets in a controlled manner. They have traditionally been used for two purposes: firing bullets at people, and threatening to fire bullets at people. Thus, a gun is considered a weapon, though technically, the bullet is the weapon, unless the gun itself is used as a club, or as a spear if it has a bayonet attached.
The three main types of firearms today are bolt-operated, semi-automatic, and automatic weapons. In a bolt-action weapon, each new round must be chambered manually, by moving the breech to eject the empty casing. In semi-automatic weapons, each pull of the trigger fires a bullet. In fully automatic weapons, bullets will be fired as long as the trigger is depressed until either the trigger is released, or the ammunition is exhausted.
Science fiction, such as Star Trek, has postulated many different types of energy weapons. These are guns that fire beams, waves, or packets of energy. Some energy guns can be set to stun, not to wound or kill. A real-life applications of this is the taser.
The cultural issues surrounding guns are many and widely debated. Conservatives generally prefer to reserve for the individual the right to self-defense through the use of guns. Liberals generally prefer to delegate this right to various socialized guards and peacekeepers, such as the city police.[Citation Needed]
Law-abiding citizens carrying guns are statistically an effective deterrant and defense against lawless or criminal individuals. This has certainly been shown in the USA, which had 11,350 murders by shooting in 2005[1], compared with 50 in 2005/06 in the UK, which restricts the possession of handguns.[2] However, it should be noted, that the USA has a population approximately 5 times greater than the UK,[3] [4] the number of murders by shooting is approximately 200 times higher.Guns are also a defense against a tyrannical government. Theoretically, if a person has the power to take the life of another, other people will not perpetrate criminal offenses against them. In practice, few existing civilian militias are strong enough to withstand a civil lockdown by a full army.