Register every firearm. Plus have pretty severe penalties for failure.
I can already hear the objections in terms of 'that's a slippery slope....'. But that's unconvincing; it's a large step from here to gun bans or limits or........have a seat, gun nuts........confiscation!
And I think that discussing this as a public policy question might help to unmask those who argue. in bad faith, against reining in the gun lunacy in our society. Such as the ones who'll say, about mass shooters, "This is not a gun issue, it's a mental health issue" but who will then fight viciously against any public effort to address those mental health issues.
A little more exploration below the fold.
Now, I'm not a total enemy of the NRA or other gun advocates. I happen to agree with what the 2nd Amendment sought to achieve and there's no doubt in my mind that every American has an absolute right to own and possess a firearm. A good deal more than one if he/she wishes.
But consider the meaning of "A well-regulated militia". There are those who feel this means that these arms must be kept in a local armory, with the individual only possessing them during his/her active service. I don't think the framers had anything so restrictive in mind, myself, but at least I can trust the sincerity of those who do.
Now consider those who rail against any notion of a 'gun registry' while keeping in mind the fact that the 2nd Amendment uses the word 'well-regulated'. A gun registry certainly fits with the notion of well-regulated. Hence, it's not unconstitutional. I don't trust the good faith of those who argue otherwise. I think they're manufacturing their own truth. A public debate over that matter would surely be useful in separating the sheep from the goats.
I mentioned above that I'm a friend of the 2nd Amendment. But I'm also not so blind that I can't see that this society has gone completely nuts on guns. And, yes, something certainly does need to be done about it.
So instead of pushing legislation that bans certain types of firearm, which might be unconstitutional, let's promote one small step that'll get us going in the right direction. Something that no reasonable person could object to. And public opinion will get some input into who is being reasonable and who is not by listening to the pros and cons.
So my suggestion is a federal registry of any and all firearms. And, yes, that does include mere shotguns used for hunting. And possession of a firearm not registered to the person in possession is a felony. And let's make it a pretty severe one. The type of felony that gets a person hard time.
If we must release people who've sold some crack or some meth in order to make room for the illegal firearms possessors, then that's okay.
I suggest that this law and these penalties be federal in order that there be true penalties for those who possess guns that they shouldn't even in those states that might not show much enthusiasm for this idea. But any state that wishes to lock up these people as well is more than welcome to do so.
This might not stop even a single mass shooting. But it might stop some individual murders simply by getting guns out of the hands of those who really, really shouldn't have them.
And, more to the point, it might help our society as a whole develop a more healthy attitude toward, and relationship with, firearms. We sure do need some attitude adjustment on this issue.