It isn't weapons, it's society. When i was a boy of twelve I received my first firearm. I'd used them before but, this was mine. All of my sons (all five) got long guns on their twelfth birthday and every daughter got the option (only one in three took it). They were raised with firearms, respected them and knew that mishandling them was a huge offence. There was no mystery, no strange mojo, they were tools. I took hunters safety when I was twelve to get my hunting license (that made me legal on public land).
When my friends and i took the class we brought our rifles and shotguns to school no one took a second look. We went directly to the instructor who then tagged them with our name and they were then locked in the coaches office in the gymnasium. My how times have changed!!! Or is it the culture?? All I know is that I've never seen a gun kill anyone but, I've seen plenty of people use guns to kill other people. We need to keep it straight. You can ban guns of all kinds and every one that is really motivated will get one. I can walk into the local hardware/DIY shop and for under ten dollars have what I need to make a rifle up to .30 caliber, shotgun, 20 or 12 gauge, or handgun, .22 to .38 caliber.
The social engineering is not the solution. Mental health care, education and respect for life are what's needed. I grimace every time I think about how much hassle people have in other countries just carrying a knife. How long can it be, can it be in a pocket, must it be carried openly? I won't start in on history lessons and all the reasons I believe there should be freedom to be armed unless you are a criminal, because I'm not going to change any minds. I am glad that I can still, for now at least, give an honest opinion whether it's politically correct or not, without fear of government retribution. The time will come though, as long as people insist on a false sense of safety and security at any cost. Phew!
This of course is just my opinion given in solidarity with another (libertarian?).