Among small arms, the RIFLE and shotgun are both long-barreled weapons used for long-range shooting; the PISTOL has a shorter barrel and is accurate only at relatively short ranges. The REVOLVER, usually a pistol, has a revolving cylinder that allows repeat firing. The precise origin of firearms is unknown, although they were certainly in use by the early 14th century and were fairly common in Europe by mid-century. These early guns were little more than …showed first 75 words of 742 total…

…showed last 75 words of 742 total…property, and endanger human life with the careless use of firearms. Proponents of the sport maintain that hunters play a significant role in conservation and game control, as well as being a source of revenue for wildlife management services. They further contend that hunting is a safe activity because of safety classes, the wearing of "safety" orange (required in 41 states in the early 1990s), and the increasingly stringent licensing requirements mandated by state game departments.