[salawat]

The express purpose pf a firearm is to contain a rapidly produced gas charge from a chemical explosive to acceperate a projectile out the barrel at high speed.

This high speed projectile happens to have mamy uses. Sporting, launch of flares or bean bags, propulsion of maritime ropes across gaps...

I really wish hoplophobes would actually put some effort into researching the history and uses of that which they fear. It can be quite therapeutic.