It must have been very traumatic to see a gun-shaped object in person.
Unfortunately for Brits, they are too far down the road to go back. They've bought into the false security of banning first guns, then knives. The push now is to get rid of pointy blades, so you can only have butter knives. They call them "R" blades- these would still be legal.
The same tactic applies- naming the crime after the weapon. In the UK now, the headlines say "knife crimes", as if the weapon committed the offense and not the person.
The actual crime and the penalties are decided by the government when they arrest you. It's entirely up to the crown.
I read the knife laws a few years back when I was in a GC debate, it blew my mind. You can't even own a leatherman in the UK.
I guess I should consider myself lucky- for all my life I've owned guns and knives, and none of them ever turned on me. Just think if the gun on my nightstand decided to turn criminal and shoot me in my sleep! Scary!