These high speed projectiles really only have one purpose or intent -- to generate a high level of force on the intended target to render it incapacitated.
Most of the time, these targets are made of flesh and blood.
Bullets are researched and designed to be fired at body mass tissue, so they are very good at doing just that, but that doesn’t meant that guns should be a source of terror.
Yes, guns are used in wars to kill members of the opposing force. They are used by criminals to commit robberies and murder. However, firearms are also used by the police to protect themselves and to apprehend threatening and dangerous people.
Rifles are used by civilians to harvest wild animals for food. Guns are also used by citizens to protect themselves and others from violent and criminal acts.
Guns are a highly specialized tool that put a tremendous amount of power into the hands of people. They can be used for good or bad, depending upon whose ownership they fall into. It is not up to the gun, the decision of use rests in the hands of the people whose fingers are on the trigger.
Author Boris Karpa points out that guns are not toys or “safe” things to own. In his article “It’s a Weapon, Stupid!” on USConcealedcarry.com, he writes:
“It is obvious to any human being with a functioning brain that a gun is a weapon. It is designed to provide its operator with a way to reliably exert deadly force or the threat thereof…in other words, to kill people.” (Read more about responsible gun ownership at USConcealedCarry)
While it is true that guns are inanimate objects, the fact remains that they represent a level of force multiplied many times over. A person holding a gun can do far more damage than a person holding a hammer. Possession of any type of firearm is a serious responsibility that requires the utmost in care and caution.
When you are faced with questions about the dangers of firearms, the best approach is to acknowledge that yes, guns are weapons. They are tools designed to kill. Let it be known that you don’t leave firearms lying around on your front porch or under cushions on the couch.
Remember that the vast majority of gun owners are responsible and take precautions to ensure that their guns don’t get into the wrong hands. They are lethal tools and should be treated as such.