1) What about the AA-12?
Automatic shotgun?
Im assuming the automatic feature is from blow back. The shotgun shell/buckshot is still a lot like a bullet.
Its a cool concept, but the automatic shotgun isnt revolutionary (though, perhaps that line is the first time its been successfully done) - its combing two well established and existing concepts.
2) What about the emergence of directed energy weapons?
The gauss rifle/rail gun concept strikes me as a gun - sending a chunk of metal (maybe ceramic) forward, hurled by a sudden release of energy in the gun.
Im not really sure if particle weapons should be grouped with guns. Are they an evolution of the gun or something as distinct as the crossbow? Im actually thinking they have more in comon with the flame thrower..
Which raises an interesting point about our culture. The crossbow is not called a gun. Nor is the flamethrower. The word "gun" was pretty broad initially, but it seems it is becoming an even more generic word for any ranged weapon that has a certain look and is meant to kill/injure what its pointed at.
PS.
As I think about it, this is sort of moot. Igor is talking about an item that has a confining definition. A large advancement pretty much means it is a new thing. A high pressure water gun and a plasma cutter can cut steel rather easily while a knife cannot, but they arent called advanced knives - they are something different and have their own respective names. Also, no one is looking at the knife which hasnt changed much in 2000+ years and saying how it hasnt advanced.
Jaded centrist. Wary Cautious liberal. Obligated Engineer(Civil).
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