I've heard many pro gun-control arguments over the years, seen many laws enacted in my lifeteime and read far too many quotes from various liberals regarding gun control.  What is missing in both public and private conversation on the matter is the reality of the gun market in the United States.  In fact, rarely have I seen printed or discussed publicly in any fashion the enormous grey and black market for guns that exists in the US.   I would estimate over 50% of all gun transactions that occur daily in this country are of the grey or black market variety, and that is a very conservative estimate.  Millions of guns trade hands legally and privately in this country, totally unregulated, every year.  Don't believe me, go to your local gun show next time it comes around and bring cash.   Your potential transaction is not a crime.

Beyond that, many gun owners routinely trade guns amongst themselves within circles of friendship that develop via mutual interests in shooting or hunting.  In addition, all illegally recieved guns (stolen or illicitly received) are traded on the black market.  Finally, some legal guns are unknowingly traded to illegal criminal parties.  Most of these guns are traded two or three times "down the ladder" from an original registered gun purchaser to the end using criminal. 

The point of all this?  The gun market as it sits is beyond regulation.  Calls for further regulation and in some areas calls for gun intolerance are ignoring over 50% of all guns, that is the 50% that are effectively "off the books".  What point is there in attempting to regulate less than half an industry? 

The only way the gun industry in this nation would be under regulation is if all transactions involving guns were required by federal law to undergo federal scrutiny, such as the federal drug laws.   Even if that were the case, the history and enormity of gun trade in the US would lead to rejection of such regulation and result in moving the grey market firmly into the black market.  At the end of this "prohibitionist" movement would be the criminal element which would never give up their activity and would in fact profit enormously from such federal regulation of firearms. 

What this country needs is a return to rational thought regarding guns.  The next time you hear some non thinking person spout off about the need to make guns illegal or greatly increase gun control, remind them that controlling less than half the market won't amount to much at all, other than a monumental waste of time and tax money.   If people want to control guns, they really want to control people.   Focus on the people and the education of our nation on gun responsibility and ownership and most of these frivolous arguments dissolve.