Mummumum, mama said xbows are the devil.
mama needs to read a little history. The crossbow is a noble weapon with an impressive history, that has been melined and decried though out history.
It has been called "The Devil's weapon" , it was claimed it would destroy civilization, and was a bandit's weapon. it has been used to guard castles, fortifications, and was even used in combat against American troops just a few wars ago. there was even a repeating crossbow that would fire semiauto as quickly as you could raise and lower a lever.
a great deal of what is known of long gun design, was worked out in crossbow design, and it is as old as 400BC (Belly-Bow). It deserves more respect than is commonly given. a crossbow is not an imitation long gun, but the long gun could be called an imitation crossbow, as it's roots clearly grow from it's stock.