Well, programmers have agency. Guns don't. If they did, sure enough I'd blame them for "being killers" in addition to blaming whoever commanded them. For compl

Well, programmers have agency. Guns don't. If they did, sure enough I'd blame them for "being killers" in addition to blaming whoever commanded them. For completeness, calling something a "killer" has several connotations. One is in the very literal sense by which I call a "screwdriving tool" a "screwdriver". This is technically correct and probably not what you mean. Another connotation involves blame, and you simply can't apply this to an object without agency. (I'm still not pro-gun, btw. I just agree that calling it a killer is not a very convincing argument on the matter) (Nor do guns "make a living like everybody else" :) ) My point is, if your boss commands you to do something unethical, this does not dissolve you of blame (unless you are an inanimate object :p).