The gun bans in DC were ruled unconstitutional. What that means is, when an armed criminal breaks into your home in DC, you now don't have to choose between dying by being shot by the criminal, or going to prison for protecting yourself and your family by shooting the criminal. DC has had some of the highest gun crime rates in the country for years because criminals don't abide by gun laws. Taking guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens only makes it easier for criminals to kill people. It's a pretty simple concept, and it does make a difference, particularly in places where conceal carry permits are available to law abiding citizens. The screening processes for both buying firearms and obtaining concealed carry permits are in place, and they work. Given that any criminal in my area knows that I might have my 38 special under my pillow or in my glove box results in fewer person-to-person gun crimes where I live compared to DC or NYC or Chicago or any other place that has unconstitutional gun laws.