I forgot to add, I made friends with a (white) South African couple with four children who were in UK for a year. They described to me a situation very similar to that in USA, one of fear and self-defence. They lived in the countryside and were afraid of attacks from (black) thieves and killers. Their arsenal of weapons sounded phenomenal but they assured me it was 'necessary'. My own cousin in SA (a nursing sister) actually carried a pistol in her handbag at all times!

The thing is, if everyone is terrified of a gun attack by everyone else, they will want to be armed, and will use their weapons without hesitation if startled or confronted. I can't see how this vicious circle can be broken. No-one would agree to go about unarmed in these dangerous circumstances.