In my never ending quest to educate anti crossbowers who insist its a gun, I've been doing a little research on the "trigger" mechanism and comparing it to a traditional bow release. The principle operation of both devises seem similar, but my question is...guns have firing pins, or a hammer, that connect with the ammo which in turn ignites the gunpowder causing the gun to shoot. In the case of the trigger on a crossbow, there is no hammer or firing pin, only nocks that are indented to release the string when pulling the trigger to rotate the nock to a new position. As in hand releases with traditional bows, they have a lever to activate the release operation. They don't call it a trigger, but again, isn't it the same principle? Am I out in left field with this line of thinking, or have I stumbled on something that may have some merit as far as declassifying crossbows as guns?
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Fl. state handicap director, TNUSA
www.tednugent.com
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I ain't hidin from nobody, no body's hidin from me.
Catsclaw,
The crossbow triggers vary in style. Some have triggers similar in design to a firearm and some have designs more like a release. With that same comment, I will say that some string releases have designs similar to firearms (of course the bow guys would NEVER admit that)
Not really. I hang around cause I enjoy hearing what Dnk has to say. But as a person on the outside I suggest another argument. When people say its like a gun, they mean, you don't have to draw it.And you know that they know that you know what they mean. The people who makes that argument know what they mean, and if you try to morph it into a mechanical engineering class, you really lose your point and sound not too smart.
This is not gospel but a guy outside looking in. A more convincing argument is history. Another is the one shot both have. Stay away from obvious's and negatives and amplify the positives. It works in politics.
I have had the opportunity to see arguments on both sides here in MD at the state house. I am just saying what works in my mind.
Catsclaw: Hi! How ya been gal? Actually, guns have crossbow like characteristics, since the xbow preceeded them by about 1000 years, and the Chinese seem to have invented both. The "anti's" know full well the xbows performance is akin to a compound. It seems to me, most of the resistance to xbows acceptance is in states that are crowded w/ hunters.
Regardless of the reasons given, it all boils down to sharing the woods and the resources. Just my opinion here, but don't think you/we can change an anti's mind, and really don't need to, there is mostly a vocal few of them. It's the folks that sit back and take it all in, make up their own minds that are going to keep this ball rolling. Straight arrows to all!
"But it looks the same!" LOL. On the other hand I wish my crossbow triggers were as nice as my trigger on my Truefire. Release shooters (like me) have an edge on crossbow triggers for sure. Releases only have to handle wimpy poundanges so they are easier to set lighter. My judge release is probably half of what my exal is.
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OHA Life member, NRA member, DVC# ON 452
Crossbow=NOT a gun
