Guns are literally implements meant to kill. To argue that they don't murder is nonsensical. That their prime function is to kill sets them apart from most other commonly-used weapons, as well as their efficiency and ease to do so.

Less guns around = reduced capacity for a murderer to kill= less likely someone's going to die. Pretty simple.

It's not really a reasonable statement. On a basic level, yes, an inanimate object isn't capable of killing by itself. What this implies, however, is that a human being is just as capable of killing people as a human being with a gun. A gun dramatically enhances the capability of that human to kill, therefore that gun participates in the killing. It's certainly an effective assistant.

It's always sounded like a pretty unclear argument to me.
Yeah, people kill people.
With guns.
Guns help a lot.

It's an overly simplified view of a complex situation. A silly catchphrase meant to justify America's gun culture.

I only see it as if someone iss killed with a gun, it's a persons fault. Nobody can claim "it's not my fault, it's because I have a gun".

Completely agree with Whiteflame on this one. It's not a reasonable statement to make and doesn't do a good job of trying to 'justify' any form of gun culture, especially in America. A person without a gun is far less dangerous than a person without a gun, therefore, the gun contributes to the murder for the basic fact that it is a weapon and weapons are created with the intent of being used to cause serious harm. It just boggles my mind that people can say this with a serious face and believe it.

I feel like this is the sort of thing that's blindingly obvious to an outsider; but some are in denial because gun culture is so significant to U.S. society and history.

@Cassie My point exactly.

While yes guns are designed to kill they are designed for military purpose or recreation (like hunting) as far as I know. They were not designed to kill a man for the sake of killing a man or for vengeance kills. The gun didn't tell the man/woman holding it to shoot up an innocent person. The gun's holder made the decision on his/her own. If a person wants to take the life of another he/she won't stop just because there is no gun; really anything can be a weapon--if it isn't a gun then it's a knife. Hell, some choose to hit victims with their car or start large fire's in the house of the target. Point is if a person really wants another dead than he/she won't stop because guns aren't around, he/she will find another way to follow through. Which leads right back to my other point; it's all about motivation. The gun didn't come to the user. The user picked up the gun. Because he/she wanted to use it.

However I can agree that a gun certainly make it easier to kill some one.

I can also agree that in the case of an accidental firing that it is the gun's fault as the person didn't mean to fire it off. I don't know much about guns, so I don't know how one can accidentally pull the trigger but no less. Or if the person was aiming for, say, a deer and they hit a man.
Of course it can be argued that the person's irresponsibility and lack of gun knowledge is what caused it which proves the stated statement.

Knives and chairs are not for the express purpose of killing/maiming people, they are tools for food preparation and sitting down. Guns are tools for killing. Specifically, they are tools for killing efficiently, from a distance and with relative detachment. They have been optimised for that purpose. When another tool is used to kill, it is being misused. When a gun is used to kill, it is fulfilling its sole function. There is a massive difference.

This phrase is literally the stupidest and emptiest argument against gun control possible.

To use an extreme example, is the same logic applicable to a WMD? "Nukes don’t kill people, people do". Humans are responsible for making the decision about whether or not to use a WMD, after all. Let's unregulate WMDs. They don't kill people, it's the people that press the button that kill people.

One more thing: the US is responsible for for 80% of all firearm deaths, 86% of all female firearm deaths, and 87% of all child firearm deaths link. Logic like this just means nothing will ever be done about it. It's honestly so sad.

I'm not totally against guns, but... people kill other people WITH guns more than any other weapon, I'm pretty sure.