Questions tagged [guns]

Questions about a tubular weapon or other device designed to discharge projectiles or other material.

Gun

noun

noun: gun; plural noun: guns

  1. a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are propelled by explosive force, typically making a characteristic loud, sharp noise.

    synonyms: firearm, pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, carbine, automatic, handgun, semiautomatic, machine gun, Uzi; More

    weapon; informal piece, gat, heater "the illegal trafficking of drugs and guns"

    • a device for discharging something (e.g., insecticide, grease, or electrons) in a required direction.

    • a starting pistol used in track and field events.

    • the firing of a piece of artillery as a salute or signal. "the boom of the one o'clock gun echoed across the river"

  2. informal muscular arms; well-developed biceps muscles. "it's encouraging to note that Schwarzenegger wasn't born with massive guns"

verb

verb: gun; 3rd person present: guns; past tense: gunned; past participle: gunned; gerund or present participle: gunning

  1. shoot someone with a gun. "they were gunned down by masked snipers"
  2. informal: cause (an engine) to race. "as Neil gunned the engine, the boat jumped forward"
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Are violent video games a better explanation of school shootings than access to guns?

This site already has a question on the general relationship of video games and violence. But the recent Florida school shooting has raised a more specific set of claims that deserve to be addressed. According to this Rolling stone report, the…
matt_black
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In the American west—the world of cowboys and cowhands—was ammunition traded for alcoholic “shots” of a drink?

CLARIFICATION: Just so it’s clear, this question is specifically about the economic claims made by the meme presented below. It is a NOT question concerning the origins and etymology of the word “shot” in any way/shape/form. If there is a desire to…
Giacomo1968
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Does America not lead the world in mass shootings?

According to an OpEd in the NY Post by John Lott and Michael Weisser that cites a report by the Crime Prevention Research Center, America doesn't lead the world in mass shootings. "Of the 86 countries where we have identified mass public…
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Did the UK homicide rate go up after handgun ownership was banned?

During debates about gun control, I have seen gun advocates quote a statistic that the UK homicide rate increased in 1996 following a ban on handguns. Furthermore, the claim usually goes on to suggest that what bought violent crime back down to…
Bob Tway
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On average in the US, is there a mass shooting 9 out of every 10 days?

Reading the New York Times today, I came across this very amusing "tourism video" touting the benefit of visiting/moving to Australia, namely, "You Won't Get Shot". Don’t Get Shot in America. Live in Australia! At ~1:25, the actor states, In your…
anongoodnurse
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Did toddlers with guns claim more American lives than terrorism in 2015?

The Economist isn't a fan of Donald Trump as a presidential candidate. In an analysis of his ascendence to the Republican nomination they try to discern some of the factors. As part of their list of factors driving Trump support they argue that…
matt_black
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Is America “the only nation where this [a mass shooting] regularly happens”?

The Onion, a satirical newspaper, re-uses a headline each time a mass shooting occurs in the US: “No Way To Prevent This,” Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens Most recently for the shooting in Uvalde, TX. This tradition has its own…
KRyan
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Did the National Rifle Association (NRA) block research into statistics related to gun control?

About 30,000 Americans die every year from gun-related deaths (a number likely to exceed those dying from automobile-related accidents very soon if trends continue). About 1 in 3 of those are homicides and the remainder suicides. Together this…
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Did the 2nd Amendment limit the purchase of cannons from the day it was passed?

Joe Biden says in a BBC snippet that the Second Amendment, from the day it was passed, limited the type of people that could own a gun and what type of weapon you could own. You couldn't buy a cannon. Is that really so? Did the 2nd Amendment…
Fizz
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Do [US] states with the most gun laws tend to have the fewest gun deaths?

In his statements on the Umpqua Community College shootings (video), President Obama said We know that states with the most gun laws tend to have the fewest gun deaths. I'm interested to know how strong the evidence is for this.
user69715
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Will a bullet be split in half if it hits a butter knife that is fixed in place?

I was reading a manga, and I saw this: So I was wondering. Will a bullet be split in half if it hits a butter knife that is fixed in place? Have there been experiments to test that?
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Are guns the number one killer of children in the US?

Joe Biden, in his speech on June 2, said that guns are the number one killer of children, even more than car accidents. Is this claim true? According to new data just released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, guns are the No. 1…
Amir reza Riahi
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Can you make an explosion by shooting at fuel or fuel tank?

I see this a lot in movies. Have anyone studied whether this is easily doable?
Louis Rhys
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Do the murder statistics of 5 cities bring the USA to the 3rd highest country, from 189th?

I'd like to know if the claims about murders are accurate. The "3rd in murders" is clearly referring to absolute deaths by murder, as it can be seen here, USA holds the 96th position for rate of intentional homicide. So if the murders from these…
user2638180
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Do people fall over when shot because they've seen it on films?

I heard this anecdote from someone who watched this QI episode: The reason people fall over when they have been shot is because they have seen people do it in films. You never fall from being shot unless you know you have been shot, according to…
Ken Y-N
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