"...I don't own a gun, and haven't since I was 16 or so and last played around with a pellet gun. At this time, there is no need for me to own a gun. If I have to live in a scum neighborhood, or if I have a family, I'll consider whether I should buy a gun and take lessons. In any case, I'm not interested in guns. Does any of this make me a non-conservative? No, it doesn't. If you can convince me otherwise, I'll buy you a frigging arsenal of your choice..."
subsequent post:
"...Didn't mean to be snippy there. I imagine all these other FReepers out there thinking I'm some doubletalking hypocrite for not being into guns, yet calling myself a conservative. I know that isn't necessarily you..."
Your sincere apology is accepted. Don't sweat it even for a second. 
The one notion to consider is that one doesn't want to be behind the proverbial 8-ball of needing a gun and not having it when the chips are truly down. Regardless of neighborhood, a high-quality stainless steel revolver is an excellent insurance policy that can be obtained for less than $450.00 and will last your entire lifetime and your childrens' lifetimes.
I had very liberal friends who cringed at the fact that I have always owned firearms. One night in 1997, a group of criminals attempted to invade their condominium using an ax in the mistaken belief my friends owned an expensive antique collection. The criminals had the right complex, they were just smashing the door and window of the wrong unit!
The ax blade literally came through their door like Jack Nicholson's character in The Shining and my friend used a golf club and poked it through the jagged hole to try and shove them away. Meanwhile, his girlfriend was throwing hardcover books at their broken rear window and screaming to keep the criminals from climbing through. They never had an opportunity to dial 9-1-1 since it all happened so quickly.
Apparently someone else in the complex heard the commotion and called the police while they were busy fighting for their lives. The goblins heard the sirens and screeching of tires and that is when they decided to scatter. My friends estimated there were three or four men trying to gain access to their home. None of them were caught by the police.
These people are now gunowners. They keep their 4" .357 Magnum revolver loaded and stored in a quick-access box. It gets cleaned on a monthly basis and only taken to the range annually because they're still not enthusiasts...but they recognize how that tool could someday save their lives. They learned their lesson the hard way and were very lucky.
~ Blue Jays ~