Gun control would not be enough

"I wish we had a gun) for you, too, Matty."

"It would be better mum, but there's never a home without its weapons. There's the butcher knife yonder and sticks of stove wood, lids from the stove, and there's pepper in the shaker. As for that, we could keep some water hot. Boilin' water has a way of changin' men's minds. We will have to do with what we have, mum."

(from The Cherokee Trail, by Louis L'amour)