No, they keep guns under the counter because, after the third or fifth or tenth time they've been robbed they get sick of working their asses off all day every day only to have some asshole drug addict with a pistol steal every cent they've got. They're tired of reporting robberies to the police only to have the case go cold after a week or two. What do you suggest they do? They can't get insurance anymore because they've been robbed too many times; the police are helpless; they're struggling to keep their families secure. Why let some shithead with a habit have everything. Or maybe the shopkeepers should just give up and take up robbing other people's stores?
You rattle on about risking one's life for $10 or a credit card, yet that is exactly what the criminals are doing! I say give them what they really want. Shoot them first. And shoot to kill. Save the government the cost of a trial and, assuming the criminal doesn't get off on a stupid technicality, the cost of keeping him in prison.
You say you can't tolerate the idea of killing someone over a little money. Fine. Why don't you hand out your address and let the criminals come and rob you? They won't even need to bring a weapon. Just shout out, "This is a robbery! Give me all your money!" Then they will be happy, since they have your money. You will be happy because nobody got hurt. And you can go find another job to make enough money to make your ******** payment next month.
Sheesh!