a gun cannot be used for defense...it's like saying
'we bombed them to defend ourselves'
...the defense becomes an offense as soon as you pull out your gun and point it at someone. using guns for defense is not even a last resort, it simply doesn't exist.

i own five guns, none of which are handguns, and none of which i would use to defend myself...indeed it would be impossible to use them for defense anyway, since they are locked and unloaded, and the ammunition is locked away elsewhere.

the laws 'up here' are pretty straightforward and effective, and strict as they are, i find them acceptable for owning such dangerous machines. outside of a war, people have no need for guns, period. i use them for recreation, such as marksmanship and hunting. i have a nice collection but these guns are locked away 11 months of the year.

guns are cool and sexy and dangerous, in film and tv they are portrayed as tools, weapons, symbols, etc. and they are very much a part of our modern lives due to conflicts, both real and imagined. guns have changed the face of our world for better and worse, and without them we wouldn't be where we are now, also for better or worse.