[Bobblehead]

But it all seems to go hand in hand with a culture of fear and distrust.

The whole 2nd Amendment was in place to allow a militia for form if needed and overthrow a corrupt government.

Now people want to be able to have guns to protect themselves.
Entrench more laws to make it easier to obtain and carry guns, ostensibly to protect themselves.
The fear of terrorism has stripped a huge number of personal liberties.
People don't trust the police, for a variety of reasons.
Fear, fear, fear.
I don't trust my fellow man, so I need to protect myself since no one else can or will.
So more people are afraid, so more people arm themselves, so more people have guns, so there is more reason to be afraid. Rince and repeat.
And it is just a vicious cycle and I don't see any way out.

It isn't gun ownership, per se.
But the fear behind why people feel they need to own guns.
And I although I think it will scare a lot of people silly to need to give up their guns, I honestly believe that initial fear would pass and overall fear would decline.

But that is just my rambling thoughts from watching this escalate for decades now.