I was on IRC a while back and we were discussing gun rights. Someone said that "liberals" [sic] supported gun control. In response, someone else said "please don't insult liberals like that, no real liberal supports gun control. You're thinking of progressives, they're completely different."
Generally I hear the opposite; "progressives" denying that they are "liberals." How is one considered an insult, but the other isn't? For those of you who identify with either term, what would you say the difference is (if any)? And why do you prefer the term that you do?
Note: Yes, I am fully aware that the term "liberal" originally referred to classical liberalism, but since many in the Democratic party have hijacked that term and have tried changing it's definition. The guy who said that though is indeed a Democrat and fairly left-wing, though still a strong supporter of civil liberties and the NRA.