I was taught when young in the 1950s that guns were a tool just like a rake or hoe or shovel

So, the point of view I was taught was that seeing a gun as a weapon wasn't the important thing. It was simply a tool that people used for a purpose like a shovel or rake or hoe.

From this point of view what was important was to train people how to use all these tools including guns, shovels, hoes, rakes.

A gun wasn't thought of as being more dangerous than a ladder, hoe rake, shovel or other tool.

So, what they did was to train us to use all these things so we were safe using all these tools for the purpose they were intended. So, for guns the purpose was self defense and hunting.

By taking this way of thinking away from the people you are left with people dying more because there are people who don't have guns and then there are people who have guns using these guns against people who don't have guns.

This sort of makes the average person a "Sitting Duck" especially in more dangerous areas where people live.

So, should people buy guns to defend themselves in bad areas?

I don't see this as a real solution for a variety of reasons.

It makes more sense to move to an area where it is less likely that you and your family will be shot.