"There are other factors which the presence of a gun amplifies, but without which a gun is just another object."

A gun is never "just another object". It is a lethal weapon, purpose-built to kill or maim another human being.

"Moreover, gun owners are responsible for preventing or stopping the vast majority of gun crime in the U.S. It's something like 1 million gun crimes are committed each year, while there are 2 million prevented by gun owners."

Citation please?