In most countries you definitely can own a gun as long as you have some suitable grounds for that, likely hobby in hunting or range shooting (maybe requiring a club membership). Those just aren't super common hobbies.

Owning a gun just for self-defence isn't generally allowed or needed, and would of course be counterproductive anyway as using lethal force would likely land you in much deeper trouble than the looter would face. I'd end with "rightfully so" but I do realize there are deep cultural differences regarding this point.

I agree with you, but that's exactly what I was talking about. In a place where majority of the people cannot just go and buy a firearm without getting a bunch of special permits and club memberships (with gun ownership being pretty rare to begin with), it would definitely seem weird to stockpile ammo.

> Owning a gun just for self-defence isn't generally allowed or needed, and would of course be counterproductive anyway as using lethal force would likely land you in much deeper trouble than the looter would face. I'd end with "rightfully so" but I do realize there are deep cultural differences regarding this point.

Not in certain US states (look up "stand-your-ground" laws).

My reply to the parent was for providing out-of-US view about the circumstances for owning a gun.