Schusswaffe

Schusswaffe (German for "firearm" or "shooting weapon") denotes a portable weapon that discharges projectiles by the action of an explosive charge or other propellant. The term covers a range of designs including handguns (pistols, revolvers), long guns (rifles, carbines), and shotguns, as well as specialized military and sporting arms.

Typical components include a barrel, a firing mechanism (trigger and action), a chamber or breech, and a projectile feed system (magazine or cylinder). Firearms are classified by caliber, action type (bolt, semi-automatic, automatic), and intended use. They evolved from early hand-held guns of the late medieval period through matchlock, flintlock and percussion systems to modern cartridge-based designs.

Uses of Schusswaffen span hunting, sport shooting, law enforcement, military service and, in some jurisdictions, personal defense. Legal status and regulatory frameworks vary widely: many countries impose licensing, storage, transport and carrying restrictions; some maintain strict prohibitions on certain categories of firearms.

Public debate around Schusswaffen often addresses safety, criminal misuse, accident prevention and public health implications. Safety practices emphasize secure storage, legal compliance and training. Historical, technical and legal aspects are commonly treated separately in legal codes, military manuals and civilian safety literature.