A comment I just wrote to another diary about the amount of ammunition the Aurora shooter accumulated prompts me to put out this diary in the hopes of contributing another idea to the issue of gun control.
The idea - to focus on control of ammunition - goes back more than 20 years to Pat Moynihan, then Senator from NY. He argued and worked for the imposition of large taxes on ammunition (for example, see here. He noted (20 years ago) that there was a 200 year supply of guns, but only a 4 year supply of ammunition. I suspect the numbers have changed, but the point is still valid.
In metabolic biochemistry it's been long known that reactions that have a high turnover are the most critical points for controlling a pathway's function. Thus, in addition to a large tax, it would makes sense to require ammo manufacturers to make gun powder that has a relatively short shelf life. The higher turnover of ammo would help placate the ammo manufactures because, while the tax might reduce their sales, the higher turnover would help offset it. Also, requiring purchasers of ammo to go through background checks repeatedly and more frequently would increase the chances of flagging those who should not be given access to bullets.
(Added in response to comments from an earlier diary - see above.) In addition to the benefit for gun control, Moynihan also pointed out that the tax would be another source of revenue for the government. As suggested by others in that diary, such revenue could be used, for example, for the care of gunshot victims. Of course another tax would meet severe pushback from Republicans in Congress, but one could always hope.
What also intrigues me about this idea of controlling ammunition is that it may not fall under the second amendment prohibition on gun control. You have a right to bear arms, but there's no mention of bearing bullets. A strict constructionist would have to go along, although of course they are strict only when it suits them.
Moynihan pointed out that "guns don't kill people, bullets do" - a nice twist on the argument that guns don't kill people, people do.
Hopefully, Moynihan's idea (and, perhaps, mine about shelf-life and background checks) can gain some currency. But, alas, none of this, and even more basic approaches to gun control, are likely to be championed by today's politicians. Moynihan was one the last of the real statesman.