Put yourself in the criminal's shoes, would you rather rob somebody who MIGHT have a gun, or who you know DOESN'T have a gun? Same principle applies here, people are much less likely to do anything stupid when they know they can be blown away at any minute by anyone who happens to be carrying.

An institution can't control anything because people by their nature cannot be predicted to do anything. They may be able to limit certain factors that contribute to certain events, but they cannot prevent the events from happening. Tell me, was the institution of VA Tech able to control the lone nut that blew some of his classmates away? Gun free zones only prevent the guy who isn't going to do anything from doing anything.

As far as courtrooms are concerned, I don't see why not. A determined individual will do what they are determined to do and it is better to have those who have gone through the proper channels have the ability to defend themselves rather than rely on one or two bailiffs to do that for them.

Bottom line is, gun control don't work.