A gun is more effective and practical than a knife or an RPG. It is easy to use, relatively safe and reliable, affordable and easy to carry. In a very rural area not every threat is a person, for example a bear, and guns aren't exactly exotic technology. They've been around for hundreds of years. Trying to put the cat back in the bag is hopeless.
In particular in the US there are more guns than people. Attempting to confiscate all those guns would inevitably fail and likely lead to massive civil unrest. It would also fail to prevent criminals from still having access to guns.
Perhaps an arms-race is unfortunate but unilateral disarmament on one side is not a practical solution to the problem.
FWIW the US is not the only country where citizens are allowed to have guns. Look at Switzerland for an example.
Yes, permitted. You need a license, which is something that can be denied for a multitude of common reasons. Gun ownership in Switzerland is taken seriously and very heavily regulated. And the same goes for bullet ownership. Read your wikipedia link; it reads nothing like what anyone in the USA would recognise.
Relative to the USA status quo, Swiss gun laws are like a far left socialist wet dream. No electable left-wing politician would ever imagine being able to get one tenth of Swiss-style laws passed in the USA.
In particular in the US there are more guns than people. Attempting to confiscate all those guns would inevitably fail and likely lead to massive civil unrest. It would also fail to prevent criminals from still having access to guns.
Perhaps an arms-race is unfortunate but unilateral disarmament on one side is not a practical solution to the problem.
FWIW the US is not the only country where citizens are allowed to have guns. Look at Switzerland for an example.