We've all seen the "old west" movies where some "bad guys" ride into town and start terrorizing the town folk. In real life back then, this NEVER HAPPENED. Why ?
Almost every citizen had a gun, carried it, and knew how to use it. Even women and young children could shoot very effectively. The bad guys knew this and also knew that if they tried this stunt, they would have had a tremendous amount of firepower directed at them from one and all. Even grandma would be emptying a 12 gauge in their direction.
Ask any criminal today(burglar,mugger), what they fear most is the victim having a gun.