Talk:Firearm

Firearm description not correct
Description of "firearm" is not correct, although citation is correct it is out of context and applies to prohibited or controlled types of firearms. The better description is https://www.atf.gov/firearms/firearms-guides-importation-verification-firearms-ammunition-gun-control-act-definitions#:~:text=The%20term%20%E2%80%9CFirearm%E2%80%9D%20means%3A,muffler%20or%20firearm%20silencer%3B%20or Namely anything that can shoot a projectile by explosive means and is clarified to include the frame or receiver even if there is no barrel Pedia932 (talk) 20:25, 22 February 2023 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done for now: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format. Fountains of Bryn Mawr (talk) 21:59, 22 February 2023 (UTC)
 * specified text should be replaced by
 * The term “firearm” is defined at 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(3) as:
 * Any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive;
 * The frame or receiver of any such weapon. Any firearm muffler or firearm silencer. Any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm. Pedia932 (talk) 01:46, 23 February 2023 (UTC)

Text on Page should be replaced by

The term “firearm” is defined at 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(3) as:

Any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive;

The frame or receiver of any such weapon. Any firearm muffler or firearm silencer. Any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pedia932 (talk • contribs) 01:45, 23 February 2023 (UTC)


 * Wikipedia is global. Any definition we use must also be global, not just an American one. HiLo48 (talk) 02:12, 23 February 2023 (UTC)
 * I mean we could attribute it, maybe not just as the sole definition, we could include other definitions as well. As long as all are attributed. TomaHawk61 (talk) 19:55, 21 July 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 2 April 2023
The current definition stated is closer to "Small Arms" not a firearm.

Change: A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual

To: A firearm is a weapon which is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive. 73.126.57.180 (talk) 23:42, 2 April 2023 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: I agree with you, but it appears the is written with that definition of firearm, despite the fact at least one of the three cited sources contradict it. I suggest you open a requested move instead. Snowmanonahoe (talk) 00:01, 3 April 2023 (UTC)

Incorrect credit given to author of law
Article states: “This is the ATF definition of a title II "NFA firearm", as defined by the National Firearms Act”

BATFE did not author or pass the National Firearms act, the United States Congress did. BATFE has no constitutional authority to pass laws or create legal definitions 2600:6C63:43F0:400:BC26:EAFC:9C0E:1849 (talk) 18:38, 23 July 2023 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Technology and Culture
— Assignment last updated by Thecanyon (talk) 05:33, 12 December 2023 (UTC)

Needs major cleanup
Huge swaths of this article have uncited claims which is bad enough to merit a cleanup, but, worse, some sections are unreadable to a person (like me) who just wants an encyclopedic article on "firearms". It feels like people had certain bits of information they wanted known and didn't have the time to make it relevant for the article or even to put it in the correct location. For example, the very first section, Types starts out okay mentioning heavy and light weapons, but soon gets derailed by a list of the top firearms manufacturers and how many firearms exist in the world and who owns them, with no reference to type of firearms. That ignominious introduction is followed by a list of the most notable types of firearms, which could have been useful, but gets bogged down repeatedly in the weeds of ever finer distinctions. Consider this paragraph in the section Types, subsection Long guns, subsubsection sniper rifles:

Examples of sniper and scout rifles include the M40 rifle, Heckler & Koch PSG1, Walther WA 2000, Accuracy International AWM, M24 Sniper Weapon System, Steyr Scout, Sako TRG, and CheyTac Intervention. Examples of anti-materiel and anti-tank rifles include the Mauser Tankgewehr M1918, Boys anti-tank rifle, PTRS-41, Barrett M82, Gepárd anti-materiel rifle, and McMillan TAC-50. Examples of designated marksman rifles include the SVD, SR-25, Dragunov SVU, Marine Scout Sniper Rifle, Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle, and M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System.

That entire paragraph can be removed since the preceding text already gives an example of a "sniper rifle" and includes a link to the main article on Sniper Rifles. In fact, I would suggest that the Long guns subsection shouldn't have any sub-subsections at all; just include a short summary as was done for Hand guns. When people want to delve deeper into the nitty gritty, they can read the Long gun article. Let this article be about the general term Firearms, not all these specifics. 24.16.239.30 (talk) 18:35, 3 July 2024 (UTC)


 * What information about Firearms are you attempting to find in the article that isn't there? ⇒   SWAT Jester   Shoot Blues, Tell VileRat! 23:26, 3 July 2024 (UTC)