How is a gun a 'tool'?

[Tiberius]

All the direct examples you could want.

Sorry, but those aren't examples of people comparing guns with other tools; those are statements that a gun is a tool, and only a tool, which is true by the definition.

Hell, a circular saw is only a tool, but it can still do a heck of a lot of damage when in the wrong hands. Do you honestly think when people say "guns are only tools", they mean they should be as commonplace and free to use as hammers? Not even the pro-gun crowd are saying everyone should have unlimited access to guns; a lot of us are in favour of licenses, training, background checks, mental health checks, etc.

I've still never seen someone compare a gun in the way you suggested in your OP.

This is what you said:

A common trait among the pro-gun crowd is to refer to a gun as a 'tool', as if they are no different from hammers or socket wrenches.

So, do you have any examples of someone referring to a gun as a "tool" in that way; i.e. in a way which suggests they are "no different" from hammers or socket wrenches?