Yes media is hard to believe sometimes. I have heard the same about Australia burglaries and you have to let the burglar do whatever he wants, but an Australian told me it's not really that bad there. I don't know though. Other countries think the US is a war zone, and the US thinks other countries are enabling pacifists regarding crime.
A more personal test:
1. Without gun control, 10%(?) more guns in the hands of criminals, but I am armed, my wife is armed, and the criminals think twice about robbing / raping / murdering my family. As for kid safety? I trust my own abilities to keep my gun from my kids more than I trust my government's ability to keep guns out of the hands of criminals who will harm my kids.
2. With gun control, 10%(?) less guns in the hands of criminals, but now *I* and my wife can not own a gun to protect our family.