My in-laws live in one of the biggest meth producing counties in the country - it usually ranks in the top 3 every year. Especially with new laws in place controlling the amount of sudafed products sold, it's bringing in more expensive meth from other areas, driving many of the addicts to steal. Where they live is quite rural - would take at least 15-20 minutes for a sheriff's deputy to show up on the best of days. There have been break ins, robberies, and shootings out there by people desparate for cash to buy their fix.
If I lived out there, which could be a possibility since we have property out there and hope to build, I would seriously consider keeping a loaded gun in my house - as much as I am against doing that with children around. I would at least keep the gun and ammo closer together. Realistically, I'm just hoping that the crime is better contained when we get out there, so I don't have to think about making such decisions. I think one of the things keeping them away from my sister in law's house now, is that her husband keeps a gun in plain site with him when he's riding around in his tractor - and everyone around there knows he has that gun. I don't even know if it's loaded - just the presence is enough. They are left alone.
One thing I want to address here... I'm only comfortable around firearms, and talking about them, because I grew up with them, I was taught firearm safety as soon as I was walking (starting with, don't touch the guns unless daddy is with you and tells you that you can), and it continued as I got older. Even when I got my first BB gun at age 10, I couldn't even touch it unless dad was in the room with me. As soon as I had the hand-eye coordination, I was taught the first rule when you pick up a gun is to make sure it's unloaded, and even if it is unloaded, treat it as though it is loaded. I can talk about it here because that's the subject, but I don't go around volunteering that I like to shoot guns. Most of my friends don't know, it just hasn't come up in conversation. I think that's the case with most of you - especially women as it's not a very feminine subject to talk about (which is sad because not many women know that they can get the stocks of their rifles and shotguns cut to fit them better, making them more comfortable to shoot).
Ok, I'm coming to a point.
Not everyone was taught as strictly as I was (and it seems like many of you were), and some weren't taught anything at all - you can tell such people by all the stupid mistakes that make the evening news. When someone doesn't grow up with gunsmiths, or gun afficionado's in the house, or with someone who will teach them proper firearm use and safety, and they see such stories in the news, of course they are going to think guns are evil, and should be outlawed. My experience is that you just can't argue with them either.