Tell me, Pat, why aren't the criminals in New Zealand, Japan, the UK, etc. getting their hands on guns and committing murder? Did you see the statistics I posted regarding firearms deaths abroad? Might your theory be flawed?
First off where are the statistics coming from? Second are handguns the only method to commit murder? No I would say not.

As to your concern about personal protection, I wonder if we'd all be better served by the development of a non-lethal protection device (similar to a stun gun) that would allow a person the ability to fend off an attacker. Surely such a device could be developed that would improve the situation.
Hmmnnnnnnnnn.. That's presuming the attacker is unarmed. If I'm packin' it aint gonna be a stun gun