This reads to me as a perhaps unwitting but excellent demonstration of political intolerance.

Is it possible that the pro-lifers have a genuine belief that a fetus is worthy of protection equal to (or similar to) a human life? If that's their initial belief, it seems reasonable that they'd conclude that 40-50x as many abortions as firearm homicides per year represents a greater problem in the former than the latter.

I don't think your proposed "fundamental distinction" is anywhere near as fundamental as you seem to believe.