Yea, I have a friend in California. There is usually a shootout of some kind every week after sundown.

It's been happening for about 4 years straight at this point. He had to help the police last year due to a small gang bust that happened on his street.

It's seems that things are getting desperate, especially since civilians are apparently needed to help. (He does have a short military service record, which is why the request happened at all.)

If guns deterred crime, red states, and cities in red states wouldn't be topping the violent crime charts in this country.

It's a fantasy. The reality is that gun vendors and political pundits do a great business in preying on your fears and anxiety.