How "Civilized" are gun owners?

There are people in this country that actually think that the police will magically appear as if beamed down from the Enterprise if they are suddenly faced with a rapist, robber, or a murderer. This isn't reality. I have guns for hunting and personal defense because I don't buy in to that assumption. It's too darned late when someone intends to take your life to realize you should have prepared yourself to handle the situation.