Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Rifle Loony? Or something else?

MD
Looked through a ton of very old dictionaries, including Latin and Greek versions trying to find proof of what I knew to be right. I failed.

My assumptions had been a root of Lune for moon > lunatic for crazy > loon for melancholy x crazy > loony for crazy person.

What I found is general disagreement in the ranks. Scandanavian "lo" or "lomar" is the root of loon and lament. A couple specific texts say loony is rooted there as well and make the argument for its existence prior to the advent of lunatic, its claimed root.

Which brings us back to being able to use the MW definitions stated above, namely harlot or simpleton. Being correct means it is only making the language richer. Being PC has clearly the opposite effect.

As has been discussed here before, terms such as "weapon" are clearly incorrect and have very negative connotations, so shelving them is a very good thing, IMO. But correct is correct, so bring on the harlots!
art

hey sitka,

i can't believe that i missed the one where it was agreed that the word weapon was incorrect or had negative connotations..... maybe i travel TOO much.....

all of my firearms are principally weapons, fit for battle, cared for as if they will do battle at a moments notice. i believe that my forbears felt pretty much the same..... yes, they used their weapons to put meat on the table, but in the land where i have lived and in most of the places that i travel, food comes a lot easier from the water... or is gathered from the soil..... i don't have too much around the place that i don't look at and try to visualize it as a weapon.....

maybe i'm a little loonier than some??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> ..... john w

Mule Deer,

Of all the words you listed, I prefer the following three:

aficionado,
fancier, and
loony,

and I see nothing wrong with loony (definitely better than zealot or fanatic in terms of PR with the general public). Although I might prefer to be called a fancier or aficionado, I think "rifle loony" is more descriptive, and isn't that what writers are supposed to find -- colorful, descriptive terms to describe their topic?

Keep up the good work!

JohnW
Do not want to sidetrack a very good thread, but the basic concept is weapon is an offensive impliment wielded by an aggressor and by original definition could not include defense, nor even use by a losing aggressor.

You will notice the term is not used by the NRA, and not because it is PC, but because it is wrong. You will be able to look at MW and find definitions now you can argue about, but I will not go there again. Improper usage is allowing its acceptance, but I see no reason to keep the word.

It has exactly as much validity with my firearms as Saturday Night Special and serves gun owners no purpose.

If weapon was the correct term I would have zero problem using it, but it is not. Your firearms are not weapons until you use them to overcome an enemy on its own turf.
art

I'm a Looney, and if there's doubt trot over to AR and visit the Small Game forum. I used to be a Miniac but that was a long time back. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Like your writing JB, keep at it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

sitka,

not concerned with merriam webster in the least... my firearms, knives, vehicles, hands, feet, and the dirt that i stand on are weapons.....

i don't see any point in discussing offensive vs. defensive, or the enemies ground vs. my ground.....

day in, day out, there is no need to use a weapon offensively, and fortunately, due to my geographical location and cultural surroundings, small need to use a weapon defensively.....

still, weapons they are, regardless of your conceptual view..... sounds like you and i are a long way apart on our definitions.... guess you can call yours what you want to..... john w

I prefer "Rifle Shooter" or "Rifle Aficionado"......doesn't matter if Jack used the term. Loons........we have loons in Minnesota, you know 10,000 lake country and all. Loons are the Minnesota state bird. Now there's a thought....."Rifle Birds." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Roger--

Well said! I was on custom cutting crew for 6 years, and we harvested that grain. Stuff with blood is another thing.

I like Rilfe spaz and nerd too. Will tell my wife about Riflesister, as she is a shotgun loony.

Thanks again,
JB

hey mule deer,

just call it as straight as you can, and, i'm pretty sure, you'll find us all behind you at the end of the road..... john w

Do you think anyone would be up in arms if they described themselves as a mountain bike loony?

Or a hockey loony?

Or a beer drinking loony?

Or even a Canadain dollar Loonie? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I read that letter and said to myself- Don't youhave anyhting better to do with your time than bend over becasue of how you are 'percieved' by everyone else?

I figured out in my late 20's that I didn't care what others thought of me, as long as I was true to myself..Now, at 36 years old, I am so wise that I can even advise others on this topic <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Many sports related activities utilize the term, "rat", to describe extra devoted or obsessive enthusiasts. Examples are: Gym Rat for basketball, Diamond Rat for baseball, River Rat for those into the boating and waterskiing scene, and Desert Rat for the many who frequent the deserts to camp, ride atv's or race trucks. In that vein, why not something like "Rifle Rat" or "Gun Rat" to describe the truly looney amongst us?

I like "rifle rat"! Might have to use it sometime, as in, "When the gun show was held last weekend, all the rifle rats came out of the woodwork."

JB

I just figured it out MD!
It is not the second, but the FIRST word that is throwing these fools into a tizzy!( big stick tech term)
If they are not Loonies, the concept of firearms gets them choked, and if they are, they have their heads to far up their butts to admit it!
Case in point. I have actually had someone tell me on more than one occasion "No, I'm not a biker,I'm a motorcycle enthusiast". I'll try to explain this. They want to distance themselves at the proper times , mind you, from the 1%'ers, but want to be included, at the proper time to have the appropriate fun. This is a clear as I can figure it out for myself, anyway.
Does this make sense?
Myself, I think it comes down to political crappola.
(catnthehat tech term) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I think the problem is a case of "sour grapes" the writer simply hasn`t reached the status of "loony" yet and is bumming.
Note:
Gun Owner: has a rifle he inheirited from his dad. shoots once a year. Plays golf daily.

Hunter: Has a rifle he acually takes in the field. Plays golf twice a week.

Shooter: Has a couple rifles, may reload, shoots 1/2+ dz times a year. Plays golf on company outings.

Gun nut: Has a dozen guns. shoots weekly at minimum. Won`t use factory ammo, inheirited golf clubs from uncle once but sold them for $$ to buy #4 H4831.

Gun Loony: Owns more firearms then Wally World has on the rack, has a 28' x 40' pole barn as a component storage shed, is farther up the prefered customer list at Nosler then the local gun shop and has been known to stop to empty the mag in his 1911 when passing the range on the way to his daughters wedding "just because the ammo was loaded last week and he needs to recharge it with fresh". Whats a golf club??

You`ll notice the lower echelon haven`t quite got past playing with their putters and little balls. They just haven`t figured out how to run with the big boys yet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

What's a golf club?
For that matter , what is a golf?
Are these "golfers" going to want thier own season and infringe on our seasons?
Are the Greenies after them because they club golfs instead of shooting them? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
Catnthehat

I like "rifle nerd" and have actually used "gun nerd" as self description ... since I don't really specialize and it also takes in the policy arena.

John

Sir - I would say the main reason those people are even reading those amgazines is because of your writtings - I would not change your style or choice of words.

JMHO

Rifle slut has a nice ring to it, IMHO. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
badger

badger, a bit off topic but I couldn't resist. 363,000 miles and it has plugs. Haven't changed 'em for a long time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Dan,

good one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> (Did ever tell you about Ted Owens, the guy who hauls 5'ers from the manufacturer to the dealers for a living? Yup, his '94 Dodge Cummins diesel has 1 252 000 miles with the original engine, injector pump & injectors. Original manual tranny, too <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)

He was featured in the Turbo Diesel Register magazine a few issues back.There a couple of others with Dodge/Cummins trucks over the million mile mark in the same issue.

OK< I've done enough thread hijacking. I vote for rifle slut. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />