Interesting discussion, these issues are very difficult to sort out. I would say that in comparing nations with strict gun control laws and those without, the preponderance of evidence is that those with stricter laws have lower rates of murder and violent crime. Of course, there are exceptions to both sides. However its absolutely true that crime has much more to do with values of the population than any laws. Economics do make a difference, but people were far poorer in our grandparents generation and before and had far fewer opportunities, yet the crime rate was not a fraction of what it is today. It doesn't matter if there are 100 guns/household or none, the people living in the household and the households around it are the biggest difference.
