if you have an animal threat wolves bear or in this case dogs I find that a perfectly sensible thing to do. likewise if you are a hunter/sportsman and need a weapon to persue your craft.

What I cannot understand is the unfathomable claim that gun controls are counter productive because only crooks then have guns.

It's utter claptrap and demonstrates more about the ignornace of gun ownership and usage by those arguing for it in the UK than a rational argument for them. (I strongly suspect those in the UK arguing in favour have no idea what gun ownership would entail)

I use guns and have access to them because of my background profession and expat lifestyle. Only last week I was caibrating my skills with a turkish 9mmm sarsilmas kilinc 2000. Although I am myself an admirer of weaponry, I derive no sense of personal safety from having to maintain a weapon and dread the time I may have to take it out and use it for real.

make no bones about this I feel far safer in the UK without a weapon than I do anywhere else in the world that requires one.