first, you need to understand that a knife is just as dangerous as a handgun.
over here the police have what is called "The 21 foot rule". that means if someone is within 21 feet of you with a knife, they can do just as much damage if not more, than what they could do with a handgun.
let me explain my situation-
i live in the #1 most dangerous city in the US as far as homicides go. i have friends that have been mugged, carjacked, robbed etc.
when my wife and i drive in the city and i look on the corner at the gangbangers standing there selling crack, i feel security in my .45 on my hip. i KNOW they carry guns.....its a fact proven every night on the news (this weekend we had 5 homicides).
i feel even safer knowing that people around me that have proved themselves responsible enough also carry.
now dont get me wrong, i freely admit that we have an issue with guns in this country, but to me it sounds like you think its the wild west. its really not, and many studies have been done to show that concealed carry cuts down on crime. i agree that it is a problem with society, but that solution has evaded mankind for thousands of years.