Lars, even the language you use demonstrates the single purpose of a gun. Look closely at the term 'target practice.' Practice for what? The purpose of a gun is not to be a long-distance hole punch for a paper target, or to recycle glass from 100 yards. It's called PRACTICE because you're shooting at inanimate things to become proficient at hitting and killing living beings. When talking about home 'protection' the guns aren't being used as doorjams or fire extinguishers. 'Protect themselves' is another way of saying 'injure or kill a threat to your family.'

A gun is a tool, and that's nothing to be irrationally afraid of, but any rational person recognizes that the purpose of this particular tool is to kill living things. Don't try to sugarcoat it or pretend it isn't, it weakens any pro-gun argument you might have by making you seem disingenuous.