I live on a farm and own a rifle, shotgun, and handgun in CA. I did not begrudge the paperwork needed to get those guns, it helps insure that responsible people own these weapons. CA is more restrictive but far from "taking away your guns". There will always be NRA shills who shout down any rational gun control measure (as we are seeing here). Farmers like me have weapons for predators (ones that kill chickens in our case), yet honestly traps have worked better over the years. Shotgun/handgun for home protection but I sure keep them locked up, with other security measures. I don't think anyone minds reasonable guns in the hands of responsible hunters, farmers, home protectors, law enforcement, those protecting schools and shopping centers. However when military scale weapons get in hands of any idiot there's a problem.
Your article is sensible and I would summarize sensible legislation as:
1) Background checks
2) Assault weapon and high capacity magazine bans (unless one is permitted in some fashion, ie highly responsible with high purpose)
3) Ability to reliably ID bullets and guns to establish source and responsibility.
Handguns aren't capable of the massive carnage of assault weapons. Most don't begrudge trained/responsible people owning them (they are watchdogs, like the off-duty copy that recently killed the Texas shooter). On the other hand, homeowners are learning the high liability of just shooting any perceived intruder willy-nilly. As you said, people didn't generally do that in even the Wild West.
Never could figure out how any of this was "taking our 2nd Amendment Rights Away" as it clearly it says "Well-Regulated Militia". Many responsible hunters, farmers, home protectors have a growing resentment of the irresponsible gun people that tend to give them a bad name. I agree also that the gaming and Hollywood media needs to tone down the "revenge killing" culture, obviously right-wing anarchy fascists need to tone down the hate rhetoric, the family unit needs strengthening.
Most police associations support some form of gun restrictions. Shouldn't that be a clue that something needs to be done?
