Well, I've never owned a gun not do I plan to. It's not out of disdain for guns, I just figure I'm doing society a favor as I am one of those inept clods for whom nothing is ever where I think I left it. With me the gun would probably be misplaced, lost and out on the streets causing mischief I never intended. Either that or I'd shoot my eye out or lose a foot without even pulling the trigger.
The debate as I see it from a mostly neutral point of view, is that it is less about controls (though I think some controls might be a wise move), it's the rhetoric around guns and the cultural place of guns in America.
Guns have always had a major role in American culture, but in recent decades the fight for gun rights versus gun control, has over-emphasized that role. Guns are now up there with Jesus. They're not just a right, for some they have become an essential expression of patriotism and nationhood, both sanctified, and fetishised. Hollywood certainly plays its part, but the NRA have done a great deal to imbue guns with far greater significance at an identity level, than they should ever have. The NRA could be a big help by taking the position that the laws would help the law biding gun owners by keeping the weapons out of the hands of baddies. But they've staunchly maintained a "fer us or agin us" position, because that makes them the most high profile leader of the fight for the common man against the big bad government/eastern eggheads, which makes the money flow into their coffers.
Our politicians give the same answers because the debate hasn't changed in all these years. As always, it's the politicians who blame the guns, versus politicians who blame everything but the guns. We agree it's a terrible thing, we all send our thoughts and prayers, and we all salute the ordinary people who step up and who become heroes. But I'm ashamed to admit that when I first saw the news bulletin, I didn't have the sense of shock I used to have.
Anyway, gotta go. If I could just find where I lost my car keys...