An absolute necessity to who? We have perfectly working methods of public transport that are frequented every day without the need for a car. It may be a necessity to you but not to others. It is a luxury more than a necessity. The same way you say society "needs" cars I could argue that there is a society at large that "needs" firearms. Not to mention the obvious that it's a constitutional right. To millions of Americans firearms are an essential part of everyday life from recreation through protection. So to say neither of those statements are true of firearms may be the truth in your reality but it would be a total fallacy in millions of others.