What is the Purpose of a Gun?

[billh58]

In Indianapolis, we have a growing problem with murder and gun violence. Everybody’s talking about it. And talking. And talking. And talking.

Everybody’s talking about what we need to do. That’s good. We need to talk, and there are no easy answers. The answers may be as much about education and income stability as anything.

Still: It’s just too damned easy to get and carry a gun. Too. Damned. Easy.

What, after all, is the purpose of a gun? The purpose of a gun–if we’re being honest–is to kill something. It’s a tool that has enough power, when used properly (and very often improperly) to kill. Hunting rifles and shotguns are for killing animals. Handguns–if we’re being honest–are for killing people. That’s the purpose behind their design–they are portable, concealable, easy-to-use tools for killing a person.

You may feel protected when you carry a gun, but guns are not for protection: They are for killing. Were I a paranoid person or on some sort of mystery-solving adventure, I might also feel safer if I carried my eight-inch chef’s knife that is for chopping vegetables. I might feel safer carrying a baseball bat or accompanied by a dog. (P.S.: The purpose of a dog is not to protect you. As far as I can tell, the purpose of a dog is to be a dog.) But guns are only for killing.

http://www.punchnels.com/2014/07/17/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-gun/

The article is a couple of years old, but it's premise holds true -- and always has. Guns, especially handguns, are very efficient at their designed purpose: killing people.

[guillaumeb]

1. To easy Bill.

A gun is designed for one thing, to kill.

It can be used for target shooting, it can be used as a paper weight, or as a hammer, but it is designed to kill.

[billh58]

3. The absurd argument

from the NRA apologist crowd that deadly weapons are not "designed" to be lethal except in certain circumstances (as determined by the holder) is illogical on its face.

The gun nuts are correct when they point out that someone inclined to kill can do so with almost any implement. The reality however, is that a gun is used more often than lawn furniture because it is so efficient at killing from a distance, and very efficiently without to much exertion on the part of the killer. In other words, a gun is designed to make the job of killing quick and efficient.

Using targets to improve one's skill at killing has been around since Man first picked up a club (also designed and used for killing).

[msongs]

2. the purpose of a gun is to kill people. nt

[Buckeye_Democrat]

4. It's for killing people and animals. Some people use it for target sports.

If you notice, it's cities with high population densities that are more likely to want gun control.

People in rural areas don't experience the problems as frequently, so they're less likely to see the problem.

There's naturally less "freedom" when population grows.

http://billmoyers.com/content/isaac-asimov-on-his-faith-in-the-power-of-human-reason/

MOYERS: What do you see happening to the idea of dignity to the human species if this population growth continues at its present rate?

ASIMOV: It’s going to destroy it all. I use what I call my bathroom metaphor. If two people live in an apartment and there are two bathrooms, then both have what I call freedom of the bathroom, go to the bathroom any time you want to and stay as long as you want to for whatever you need. And this to my way is ideal. And everyone believes in the freedom of the bathroom. It should be right there in the Constitution. But if you have 20 people in the apartment and two bathrooms, no matter how much every person believes in freedom of the bathroom, there is no such thing. You have to set up, you have to set up times for each person, you have to bang at the door, aren’t you through yet and so on.

And in the same way, democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people onto the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn’t matter if someone dies.

Self-centered IDIOTS!!!

[Binkie The Clown]

5. The secondary purpose: To make small, frightened people feel big, powerful, and in control. n/t

[billh58]

6. Exactly, and that is

also the gun lobby's marketing strategy: making small paranoid people feel big, powerful, and in control.

[guillaumeb]

8. Add in a large dose of fear to the mix.

Fear of non-whites.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

7. That too!

Let's not forget that the NRA used to be in favor of more gun control. That changed after a racist took over in the 70's and changed the narrative that white people needed more guns to protect themselves from the "scary" black men seen on the news carrying guns in public.

[jimmy the one]

9. in 1828 a musket was a tool, of war & destruction

What, after all, is the purpose of a gun? The purpose of a gun–if we’re being honest–is to kill something. It’s a tool that has enough power, when used properly (and very often improperly) to kill. Hunting rifles and shotguns are for killing animals. Handguns–if we’re being honest–are for killing people. That’s the purpose behind their design–...

Gun Lobby often claims guns are tools. Websters 1828 confirms this somewhat in 2ndA contemporary terms circa early 1800's, in that muskets were considered instruments, and tools of destruction:

Websters 1828 Dictionary: instrument IN'STRUMENT, n. [L. instrumentum, from instruo, to prepare; that which is prepared.]
1. A tool; that by which work is performed or any thing is effected; as a knife, a hammer, a saw, a plow, &c. Swords, muskets and cannon are instruments of destruction.
https://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/instrument

I want to repeat that - the firearm of the day circa 1828, was considered a tool of destruction:

websters dictionary 1828: Swords, muskets and cannon are instruments of destruction.

We can follow the progression in websters to 1844 & 1913:

1844 websters dictionary: MUSK'ET, n. A species of fire-arms used in war, and fired by means of a lighted match. This manner of firing was in use as late as the civil war in England. But the proper musket is no longer in use. The name, however, in common speech, is yet applied to fuses or fire-locks fired by a spring lock.

1913 websters: Mus"ket A species of firearm formerly carried by the infantry of an army. It was originally fired by means of a match, or matchlock, for which several mechanical appliances (including the flintlock, and finally the percussion lock) were successively substituted. This arm has been generally superseded by the rifle
https://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/musket

Supports firearms being used for common defense. No mention of muskets being used for individual purpose - tho they were sometimes historically used for hunting, generally birds with birdshot. Big game was considered too risky since the musket shot was considered unreliable - misfire, inaccurate, and only one shot.