Permitting citizens to own firearms will go a long way to curbing crime

The entire article can be found here in engineering news.

The article's author mentions various pieces of legislation around the world and then makes the observation

Is there any evidence that the crooks now have fewer guns? I do not think so.

So, in effect, the gun laws keep the crooks armed and curtail the ability of law-abiding citizens to fight back.

To put it bluntly, yes.