In the Old West, civilians were instructed by signs to turn their guns in at the Sheriff's office.

[TeamProg]

In the Old West, civilians were instructed by signs to turn their guns in at the Sheriff's office to be held until they left town.

Dodge City was one such town.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gun-control-old-west-180968013/

"""The laws of Tombstone at the time required visitors, upon entering town to disarm, either at a hotel or a lawman's office. (Residents of many famed cattle towns, such as Dodge City, Abilene, and Deadwood, had similar restrictions.) """


https://www.huffpost.com/entry/did-the-wild-west-have-mo_b_956035

""Guns were obviously widespread on the frontier. Out in the untamed wilderness, you needed a gun to be safe from bandits, natives, and wildlife. In the cities and towns of the West, however, the law often prohibited people from toting their guns around. A visitor arriving in Wichita, Kansas in 1873, the heart of the Wild West era, would have seen signs declaring, "Leave Your Revolvers At Police Headquarters, and Get a Check."

A check? That's right. When you entered a frontier town, you were legally required to leave your guns at the stables on the outskirts of town or drop them off with the sheriff, who would give you a token in exchange. You checked your guns then like you'd check your overcoat today at a Boston restaurant in winter. Visitors were welcome, but their guns were not. """"

[Vogon_Glory]

2. I believe that the same policy was implemented in Dodge City, KS, too.

I don’t know what the homicide rate for the present-day Dodge city, but I suspect that the local cops and sheriff wishes that the ordinance was still in effect.

[stopdiggin]

3. a gun was a (rather expensive) tool

that was nonetheless desirable and therefore fairly common among the frontier and agrarian population. A sidearm (pistol) was not. Many of the rural west, including settlers, frontiersman (and cowboys), neither had, nor saw the need for, such an item.