Weapons are defined in your states statutues under "dangerous weapons".
Guns are included and restricted there.
The manual may state the intended purpose is "not to harm others" but what a manufacturer stated [ for liability and to please their attys: ] is quite different from reality.
If you take the stance that "your" gun is strictly defensive in nature you are only stating "your" intended use of same, but in so doing have defined a "weapon".
"Smallarms" are weapons, whether you use it defensively or offensively--whether you use it legally or illegally is subjective and dependant on an individuals preference to use the same tool.
Objects that are specifically designed for defense of your person are by that very definition intended and carried by us to reciprocate the attackers desire to harm us first.
Definitions/description of weapons per the American Heritage dictionary as follows:
"An instrument used in offensive or defensive combat"
"A part of the body, such as an animals horns or claws"
"A means employed to disarm, persuade, or get the better of another"
The gun would be a conventional weapon and the stick, bat, ashtray off the bar top, curtain rod etc would be unconventional weapons.
Now fellas, you can play semantics all day with your definition of what YOU call your gun but it matters not as you see you still are subject to the laws of your state and they all state a gun is a weapon clearly in their statutes. Using that tool will be considered using a dangerous/deadly weapon.
Look at it this way--a jury of your peers [ who will be judging you as a defendant ] will consider the gun you used a dangerous weapon. They have no choice based on instructions to the jurors relative what the "law" says, not what you and your atty: attempt to call it.
The general consensus is that a gun is a weapon. It's main purpose to inflict injury of another. Is your gun used in defense of yourself or another? Then it meets the dictionary definition doesn't it.
Carried further, when you are asked why you were carrying a gun in the first place your answer would be?--to protect [ defend ] myself if necessary? Then you have met the description in the dictionary.
You weren't carrying that snubby for target practice were you?
Snubs don't lend themselves well to target practice do they?
You armed yourself with a deadly weapon and used same to defend yourself. Cklassic description according to the dictionary meaning of the word.
You did not carry the gun as a bludgeoning tool did you? Of course not. And nobody would believe you if you told them that in a courtroom.
Semantics only get you more jail time if you have erred in your judgement to use such tools. Tools can be dangerous weapons [either conventional or unconventional ]. The gun as a tool is a conventional weapon. People see guns and they know that they were designed for one thing, to put projectiles downrange where if they come into contact with a human body the expectation is that you will likely die from such action.
You say tomato, I say tomaaaato. Call it anything you like but keep in mind you will be judged by others instructed by the courts that you were carrying a dangerous weapon [ the gun ].
If it were not so you would have no reason to "carry" it around town. If it's intended purpose really was for target practice or hunting you would not have been carrying it on your person in downtown podunk, USA.
Not many animals to hunt legally in the projects of the inner city now is there?
They'll ask you why you own one.
They'll ask you why you were carrying one.
They'll ask you why you practiced on humanoid targets if you were not intending to use it for defense of your person.
They'll ask you why you feel it is not a weapon.
All of your answers had better make more sense than just "I call it a gun" as you will be saying that all the way to your new home with bars on the doors and windows.
Cops carry weapons [ guns ] to defend/protect the general public from others who may attempt to cause various types of harm to us.
If you can get by that one with a jury of 12--you have done well.
Play the game if you will but in the end a gun is a weapon. Your refusal to admit that may give the authorities enough reason to rescind your permit.
It's called a "concealed weapons" permit for a reason. People need one to conceal a "weapon" on their person. Usually that permit involves "guns" [which are weapons]. If they weren't considered weapons you would not need to get a "weapons permit", right?
Brownie
My pencil could be a weapon if used in that manner, but until then it's just a pencil.