What Does it Mean to Say, “Gun’s don’t kill”?

I don’t understand the statement, “Guns don’t kill, people do”. What does that mean? It’s not an accurate statement because of course guns don’t kill, bullets cause the damage. And to be more precise, bullets don’t kill, they damage organs and when an organ ceases to perform its function, the person may die.

Yes, I get that a person must operate the gun for someone to be killed (well, usually). However, guns make it much easier to kill. Sure, people kill others in other ways like knives, poisons, explosives, or ramming with a vehicle. But guns are, by far, the easiest. To kill with a knife or sword requires some skill and physical strength. If the person being attacked is stronger or quicker, the attacker may well be the one who is injured. Dealing with poisons requires knowledge, access to the materials, and access to the person to kill. Explosives also require knowledge and access. A gun and bullets can be purchased at any of thousands of stores and requires little training to know how to aim and shoot. With minimal training, successfully killing someone might be difficult, but still much more likely than attacking with a knife with minimal preparation.

I have read in the newspaper about drive-by shootings in our city. I have never heard of a drive-by knifing, or drive-by poisoning. Guns are simply easier. And we people are all about doing things the easy way. There are a small number of bow and arrow deer hunters. Most deer hunters choose to hunt with guns. Why use guns if they are not more likely to result in a kill?

Many people are concerned about self-protection at home. They worry about someone breaking in, such as a burglar. So what do those concerned people do? They buy guns. Why? Why not keep a sword in the bedroom? How about a panic button next to the bed that, which when hit will call 911 with a recorded message and at the same time automatically close and lock the steel reinforced bedroom door? Concerned people buy guns because they believe that the presence of a gun will greatly increase their chances of being able to kill an intruder.

With a gun, someone can be killed. Without a gun, not very likely. Pretty simple to understand as shown by the number of people who own guns for self-protection. Would anybody show up for a gunfight with a sword? What does that say about the role of guns? Remember that scene in Indiana Jones where he showed up for a sword fight with a gun?

So if you are a person who likes guns, likes hunting, has fun at the gun range, worries about self-protection, or maybe feels very strongly about the individual right to own a gun, then say that. Use words like those. That would be communicating. That would be saying something with meaning.