The rifle, that way and care

[Anna232]

Should I use the definite or the indefinite article before the name and the word "care?" Is "that way" correct?

I was surprised when I saw The Dragunov sniper rifle in that fishing shop. Such things need a special care. They should not be sold that way

 

[Tarheel]

No. There should be no article there. Say: "Such things need special care." Or: "Such things need special treatment."

 

[teechar]

I was surprised when I saw The Dragunov sniper rifle (for sale) in that fishing shop. Such things hunting (military) weapons need

See above.

special care. They should not be sold that way

What do you mean by that?

 

[emsr2d2]

The sale of such weapons should be carefully regulated (not sold in a fishing shop where anyone could lay their hands on them).

 

[Skrej]

Are you expressing concern about the care (treatment) of the weapon or are you expressing concern about the availability to the public of the weapon?

I initially (and still do) read the original as a lament about the lack of proper care for an appreciated item - i.e. it deserves proper respect and care. It doesn't deserve to be relegated to some shelf in a fishing shop.

If your concern is that it's a bad thing and shouldn't even be available to the public, then you need to substantially reword the sentence and remove terms like 'special care'.

Regardless, you don't need to capitalize "The' in front of Dragunov.

 

[teechar]

I initially (and still do) read the original as a lament about the lack of proper care for an appreciated item

That's what I thought the OP had possibly meant.

Regardless, you don't need to capitalize "The' in front of Dragunov.

I agree. I somehow missed that one.

 

[Anna232]

See above.

What do you mean by that?

I mean they should not be sold in fishing shops.

 

[emsr2d2]

I mean they should not be sold in fishing shops.

In that case, the word "care" isn't appropriate for the way you've worded the sentence. You could use it in something like "The people who sell such weapons should take more care to ensure that they're available only in licensed gun shops" or similar.

 

[Skrej]

I mean they should not be sold in fishing shops.

That still doesn't clarify the question I asked. Why should they not be sold in fishing shops?

In the US and Canada, (and likely other countries where where firearms can be legally bought) hunting and fishing gear is often sold together. The stores that choose to do so are still legally licensed firearm dealers subject to all the state and federal regulations surrounding firearm sales.

Some quick internet research suggests that permitted firearm sales are allowed in Georgia, which makes sense if the weapon is on public display in a store. I still don't quite understand what you're objecting to.

Could you elaborate on exactly what about the gun being in a fishing shop concerns you? I'm not convinced we've arrived at the best way to state what bothers you.

 

[SoothingDave]

To put it in simple terms, are you worried that this weapon will be bought by someone who doesn't appreciate its high value and abilities, or are you worried that the weapon is available for purchase by any citizen?

 

[Tarheel]

I read the original as meaning the rifle wasn't being treated with proper respect. However, I could have gotten that wrong. Maybe something else was intended. I await clarification.

 

[Anna232]

To put it in simple terms, are you worried that this weapon will be bought by someone who doesn't appreciate its high value and abilities, or are you worried that the weapon is available for purchase by any

Sorry for the late reply, everyone. Yes, that's exactly what I meant. Or as Skrej said I am concerned about the availability to the public of the weapon. So "care" and "sold that way" don't work, do they?

 

[Tarheel]

No, they don't. You don't want them to have special care. You don't want them to be sold in fishing shops at all.

 

[emsr2d2]

To put it in simple terms, are you worried that this weapon will be bought by someone who doesn't appreciate its high value and abilities, or are you worried that the weapon is available for purchase by any citizen?

Yes, that's exactly what I meant.

SoothingDave gave you two possible meanings so you can't reply with "Yes, that's exactly what I meant". You haven't said which one of the two options you meant.

 

[Anna232]

SoothingDave gave you two possible meanings so you can't reply with "Yes, that's exactly what I meant". You haven't said which one of the two options you meant.

Sorry. I mean I am worried that it is available for purchase.

 

[SoothingDave]

Sorry. I mean I am worried that it is available for purchase.

This particular rifle or any firearm?

 

[Anna232]

This particular rifle or any firearm?

Both. But at first I thought about this particular one

 

[Skrej]

If you don't believe guns belong in public hands, then I still don't quite get why it being in a fishing shop makes it any worse (or surprising) than if it were in any other kind of shop. It's the availability you're objecting to, not the location.

However, I think what you want to say is something like the following (while trying to maintain most of the original structure).

I was surprised to see a Dragunov sniper rifle in a fishing shop. Such weapons shouldn't be publicly available.

You might want to substitute another word for 'surprised' to convey a stronger sense of your distaste, such as 'shocked', 'dismayed', 'upset', 'disgusted' or even something like 'saddened'. Pick the adjective that best fits your emotion.

You could even leave out 'sniper', unless it's that particular aspect of the gun that you object to.

 

[Anna232]

If you don't believe guns belong in public hands, then I still don't quite get why it being in a fishing shop makes it any worse (or surprising) than if it were in any other kind of shop. It's the availability you're objecting to, not the location.

However, I think what you want to say is something like the following (while trying to maintain most of the original structure).

I was surprised to see a Dragunov sniper rifle in a fishing shop. Such weapons shouldn't be publicly available.

You might want to substitute another word for 'surprised' to convey a stronger sense of your distaste, such as 'shocked', 'dismayed', 'upset', 'disgusted' or even something like 'saddened'. Pick the adjective that best fits your emotion.

You could even leave out 'sniper', unless it's that particular aspect of the gun that you object to.

Thank you so much for your detailed explanation. I see that you have used "a sniper rifle". Is "the" wrong?

 

[Tarheel]

Both. But at first I thought about this particular one

You can't say "Both" there. You have to choose.