Gun facts for kids
A gun (also called a firearm) is a weapon used to shoot one or more metal projectiles called bullets. Guns were originally created to be used for hunting, target shooting, and to protect life and property. Their usefulness in war was immediately obvious. Like bows and arrows they could reach out over longer distances to kill animals or enemies. They are of many different sizes. Some are small enough to hold in one hand. Others are large enough to sink a warship.
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Basic firearms
Guns that are small enough to be carried and used by one person have the same basic parts: a trigger, a barrel, and a handgrip or stock. The trigger is pulled by a finger to fire the weapon which releases a bullet. The barrel guides the bullet which then flies to the target. The handgrip is held by the human who will fire the gun. In military terms, the more correct word "firearm" is used for the type of weapons that soldiers carry: pistols (known as 'shorts') and rifles ('longs'). Guns can be very effective weapons. Some guns fire bullets at a very high speed, which is much more deadly than an arrow or spear. They are also more effective at greater distances than arrows or spears. Bullets are usually non-explosive pieces of metal.
Cartridges
A modern bullet is the front part of a round or cartridge. A cartridge consists of a bullet, propellant and a primer. These are packaged in a metallic, paper, or plastic case which is sized exactly for the chamber of the firearm being used. When the rear of the case (containing the primer) is struck, an explosion in the back of the cartridge ignites the propellant. The controlled explosion forces the bullet out of the barrel. Cartridges have different ways of being loaded into different kinds of weapons. Cartridges can be loaded directly into a firearm into the chamber. Or, more commonly, into a clip, a magazine or other bullet container which is loaded into the firearm. Handguns known as revolvers have a cylinder with holes that the bullets are loaded into. Modern guns called pistols are handguns loaded with a magazine and are called automatic loading.
Military distinction between gun and firearm
Modern militaries use the word "gun" for larger guns that fire bigger ammunition. For example, weapons on warships and tanks are called "guns". They may be in a "turret" (a rotating base). Big artillery guns usually fire shells, which explode upon impact.
In almost every country firearms are the main weapons used by armies. In modern armies, every soldier has at least one firearm as part of his or her equipment. Soldiers are trained to use firearms, keep them clean and to keep them in good working order. Guns have been used by armies since about the 14th century. Long barreled guns called muskets, that could be carried and used by one person, were in use by 1350. Guns were not an important weapon in European armies until about the 1600s.
Sporting use
Shooting is a competitive sport involving tests of accuracy and speed. They use various types of guns such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns and airguns. Shooting sports are categorized by the type of firearm, targets, and distances at which the targets are shot. Target Shooting is an Olympic sport.
Since the first humans, hunting became a way of life. It was and still is in some places, the key to survival. Mankind is distinguished from other animals by the use of tools. At least 2 million years ago man learned to hunt animals for meat. They learned to create and use spears and axes. Bows and arrows were used at least 71,000 years ago. Modern hunting still uses more primitive tools. But many subsistence hunters have adapted to use modern firearms. In modern countries hunting is still allowed but is considered a sport. Hunting can be used to control the populations of many animal species. As with many aspects of gun ownership and use, modern hunting remains controversial. Handguns are not generally used for hunting.
Legal use
Guns can be used to kill other people. For that reason many countries only allow soldiers, policemen, and certain social classes to have them. In some countries, a person must have a special permit (or license) if they want to own a gun. Depending on the gun, people need to be a certain age and may need to meet other criteria to get such a permit. An example of this is that in the United States federal law allows the purchase of rifles and/or shotguns at age 18—if purchased from a licensed firearms dealer. But a person must be age 21 or older to purchase a handgun—from a licensed firearms dealer. However, if purchased from an unlicensed person, with few exceptions, a handgun may not be sold to anyone under age 18. There is no age restriction on who may buy a rifle or shotgun from an unlicensed person.
In the United States and other countries, people can buy guns for self-defense, hunting, and shooting sports like target shooting. In some countries, such as Australia, people who live on farms are allowed to keep guns, but it is not easy for a person living in the city to get a gun without good reason. In the United Kingdom, access by the general public to firearms is tightly controlled by law. However, this is less restrictive in Northern Ireland.
Common gun types
Images for kids
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SIG Pro semi-automatic pistol
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Battleship USS Iowa fires a full broadside from its nine sixteen-inch naval guns
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A 'flying-cloud thunderclap-eruptor,' a proto-gun firing thunderclap bombs, from the Huolongjing.
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The first firearm (a "proto-gun"), the fire lance, from the Huolongjing.
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Hand cannon from the Chinese Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368)
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Western European handgun, 1380
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A breech loading matchlock with a plug bayonet from the Binglu, 1606.
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Depiction of a musketeer (1608)
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The Henry rifle and Winchester rifle
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Rifling of a 105 mm Royal Ordnance L7 tank gun.
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The Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun is widely used by law enforcement tactical teams and military forces.
