[DoctorIrokezov]

What makes a you less helpless against criminals if you have a gun? ... you are protecting your money but inviting an armed conflict that would not have otherwise occured. It depends on the situation. In the stereotypical 'all alone in a dark alley and the confident career criminal get the drop on you,' yes, you're completely correct. In a situation where there's a decent chance of a passerby, the thief has to worry about not only the victim being armed, but also anyone else nearby, so may just forego the crime. In a situation where the criminal is distracted and/or slow enough for you to get your gun (or there Is a passerby), they will more often flee than fight. In a situation where somebody runs amok like a school shooting or some such, the attacker may or may not be deterred, but would most likely be stopped sooner than if nobody else was armed.