BTW, it's mostly Houston that has no such zoning laws. Of course in the Houston area you can shoot the thugs stealing stuff *from your neighbors*, even with a policeman sitting right out on the street, and have the grand jury return a "no bill". :)
In New Jersey they apparently expect you to fight em off with spoons or something equally non-dangerous.
Zoning isn't much use, the thugs can drive or take the bus you know.
The thugs have a habit of "sticking out" if they come into a neighborhood such as mine. Our $85,000 plus overtime police force are on them from the moment a (white liberal Democrat in my area) picks up the phone.
Trust me, its rather difficult for them to just "pass through" without notice around here. I say this as someone who lives in an affluent (limo liberal) community that has the lovely city of Trenton bordering us to the south.
NYC did have the problem of the "have-nots" coming into the better nabes to loot, but more aggressive policing truly has worked in that case.
Nevertheless, I wish this state wouldn't make me a felon for wanting to protect myself. When I lived in Florida or Washington, I knew that if the thugs decided to jack me or mug me, they would be facing a .40 before they even said "your money!"