In fact, the crime rate across the US has been declining steadily. Some credit goes to enforcement, but a more telling statistic is the increase in the number of “shall issue” concealed carry permit laws being enacted. Something on the order of 75% of US states are shall issue states now. With the possibility of running into an armed “victim,” criminals are moving to different pickings.
“...personally owned weapons = homeland security!”
The Second Amendment was America’s original homeland security.