[ernie]

It won't stop criminals from acquiring guns for criminal purposes (though it makes it harder). But banning many types of guns and more strict gun laws does make it very much harder for the guy who can or has legally acquired a gun but who has snapped. It of course isn't just a ban guns. It has to be stricter rules on gun sales. Background checks. Waiting periods etc. Soooo much can be done even before even banning guns. Yet they don't do it because everything to the american psyche is a damn slippery slope.

It also gets rid of the accidental shootings that I suspect happen more than the "hero" chasing off the intruder. And really I don't think anyone would say ban all guns. Guns have a place in the world: hunting if you are so inclined. Need to protect livestock. And yes even the need to protect family. But you don't need a semi-auto or automatic weapons to do any of those things. Including the protecting your house...having the gun itself will be enough to cause the intruder to flee in the very large majority of cases.