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What you think criminals show an ID before they buy a gun? Well at least there would be a paper trail and maybe they wouldn't be stealing them. And it used to be that way about 50 or 60 years ago and crime was WAY LOWER than what it is today.
Punish people for committing crimes not owning objects that could be used in a crime. It's gonna get real hard to cut a steak when they get around to outlawing our knives too. Wonder what nanny laws will do with a sport of baseball when bats are outlawed. And some people wonder why there are so many stupid chicken laws.
Sure you have some paperwork to fill out and fee's to pay to own a gun, but you also own that gun legally and law enforcement knows you own it legally. That means if someone owns a gun illegally then law enforcement will know about it when said person is caught with the gun.
Is it really that awful to require that people know how to use, store and maintain their gun before allowing them to purchase one? I would imagine there would be a good drop in the number of accidental shooting deaths if more people knew how to use their gun instead of just buying one because they 'need' it.
A waiting period, even if it is just a few days is actually a good thing. Impulsive gun buyers aren't likely to be someone going on a hunting trip or out to do sport shooting. Impulsive buyers are likely to be suicidal or homicidal individuals and a waiting period gives them time to cool off and reconsider their options. No it doesn't stop every single instance of gun related homicide/suicide but it does help decrease it.
Domestic violence victims can always request police protection while they wait for their permit. There are also other ways to defend yourself that don't involve firearms. You can learn hand to hand self defense fairly quickly, carry mace, a knife of your own, or be more aware of your surroundings and keep tabs on the person pursuing you. If they know where you are, then you can find out where they are. They can also buy airsoft guns or mock guns that look real. Most people when faced with a gun will stop and retreat without the need to fire the weapon.
Age limitations make sense too, because anyone under the age of 13 doesn't need to be owning a gun. Kids are spontaneous and do stupid things without thinking. If every 7 year old is carrying a gun to school, how many trivial arguments are going to turn into shoot outs instead of fist fights? how many disgruntled kids would openly shoot their teacher for giving them a poor grade? Just because your kiddo is responsible and knows how to behave doesn't mean every kid is.
I personally don't want people with a long history of mental instabilities owning a gun because they are likely to do harm to themselves and others. Severe manic depressive people can present a major danger to themselves and others whenever they experience a high or low in their mood. Severely depressed people pose a threat to themselves when they start going back into or come out of their depression, because they get suicidal. Schizophrenics, people afflicted with Dissociative Identity Disorder, and people with psychosis should not be handling guns, because they can and will harm themselves and others, and may not even realize what they have done.
It isn't as hard as you think to own a gun. If you haven't committed any felonies, haven't been committed to a state hospital against your will, you have a valid ID and maybe even taken a safety class, you can get a permit and buy a gun. In some places a permit is only needed for a handgun, and just about anyone with a clean history can buy a rifle or shotgun.
Some criminals will always get guns no matter what laws are in place. Criminals aren't always stupid, they know the system and how to get around it. Criminals don't always use guns either. Anything can be a weapon, guns just pose the greatest threat. You can shoot someone from a distance no problem, you can't stab someone from a distance without really good aim and a lot of practice.
