I don't think she meant it like that. Like for protection, If anything it would probably be empty (or have blanks) to just scare away anyone who threatens.
But still It's a bad idea anyway.. I'm lucky nothing like that happens where I am. The worse we have are gangs who beat each other up, minimal shootings and just a bunch of stabbings (in fact I've had one friend who has been stabbed and two or three friends been beaten up and sent to the hospital. and a few with broken bones etc)