Rifle vs. Gun

[Joe W]

I must admit that I have called "handguns" guns, "shotguns" guns and even some "rifles" guns, but I have never called the U.S. Rifle Cal. .30 M1, a gun. Guess because it was drummed into my head close to 60 years ago, by Parris Island D.I.'s, that "this is my rifle", and I had better never call my RIFLE a GUN. Some of these D.I.'s may have been uneducated, but that may have been because they were on some pacific island or defending some hill in Korea, while others were getting there college degree.