Speaking as someone who owns two .22 target rifles and shoots as a sport I can safely say I'm glad to live in the UK where people can't (legally) go wandering the streets carrying weapons concealed or otherwise. Guns have no place in a civilised society outside of properly run gun clubs or in rural areas for controlling vermin.

Having said that, if I was in the US and lived in an area where a break in was a serious risk I'd probably be very tempted to have a handgun in the house to shoot the intruder with. Could look on that as controlling vermin I guess:-)

Scott