I think that guns could make society safer, but they would have to be regulated and restricted to only be given to people who would use them only when necessary.
The process should be strict involving multiple stages like ID checks, intelligence and mental health tests, interviews and then training how to handle a firearm and when to use it. The pass requirement for each stage should be as high as possible and successful applicants should then have to re-take the tests each year.
Growing up in a pretty rough area of England I have been a victim of crimes and known many relatives and friends who've been victims too and almost all of them would likely have been prevented if the attackers thought there was a chance we could have had a gun to defend ourselves.