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I've lived in Latin American countries with very restrictive gun control laws - Venezuela was one such place. The criminals had guns, the cops had guns and the wealthy "elite" had guns and bodyguards.... the law-abiding bulk of the citizens did not have guns and the murder rate in Caracas, with a population of 6 million, was greater than the total death rate in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the Balkan war.

A few years ago, several of the houses in our neighborhood were broken into. Ours was one of them and my wife evidently came home shortly after the perp arrived (kicked-in door and muddy footprints into the bedroom, but nothing missing)causing him to beat feet. When she entered the front door and noticed the back door kicked in, she stepped out and took her gun from her purse, then made a slow circuit of the house from a distance. Finding that the perp had left, she was so mad, she fired a round into the ground. Evidently the perp was close enough in the woods to hear and understand - our neighbor got broken into and robbed twice more, but we haven't been touched.

When I lived in Caracas ('90 to '93) you could select, pay for and walk out of a gun store with any rifle or shotgun. Handgun purchases required a doctor's note (wink, wink) that stated you were mentally competent.

It was easier for me to get armed there than it is here in CA... 11 days, anyone?