Hi Mike anything can be a weapon. I saw a magician cut a huge chunk out of a watermelon just tossing a playing card at it. Neat trick it was for real. However GUNS are designed solely as a weapon. They are designed specifically for killing. I can see no reason why anybody would need one or want one for that matter UNLESS THEY PLAN TO SHOOT SOMEBODY. That in my opinion is a good enough reason to ban guns altogether. The army and the police etc have guns because they might HAVE to shoot somebody. That is another debate altogether.
Oh folk might say that they have a right to self defence. Well that is a no brainer as far as I am concerned. Defence from what? Shoot first ask questions later? If someone is going to kill you they probably wont let you have time to get your gun out. Many innocent folk are shot for no reason? I thought he was going to kill me, honest, he was trying to get in my window. I did not notice he was the window cleaner.
Criminals will always have illegal guns and use them but to allow everybody guns is crazy.
Less guns in circulation less guns used. It works in the UK despite your crime figures.