It may be that the better, progressive policy response to gun violence at this time would be to stay away from any further restrictions on the types of guns and ammunition that can be sold legally. The uncertainty of the effectiveness of such restrictions and the certainty regarding the impact that this discussion has on our political culture leads me to this conclusion. ...
I am not an expert on the evidence supporting or arguing against the effectiveness of proposals such as an assault weapons ban, limiting magazine size, banning certain types of ammunition, etc. And I am sure that there are many on Daily Kos and elsewhere who can marshal the evidence in support of such policies.
I doubt, however, that such evidence is definitive; counter-examples such as the Chicago experience as described in The New York Times today create considerable uncertainty.
I do not dispute the common sense logic of the restrictions cited above, many of which are supported by military and law enforcement officials. The fact that there is such demand for these military-style weapons reflects problems with our culture.
Which brings me to the impact the current debate has on that culture. It inflames the extreme, anti-government conspiracy types, most likely adding to their ranks. The NRA, which represents this fringe more than it does the huntsman and concerned homeowner, raises funds and promotes their 2nd Amendment dogma among these more mainstream constituencies who might otherwise accept some common sense solutions.
Perhaps the better course would be to leverage the momentum for increased mental health funding, better pre-purchase screening, enhanced enforcement and similar proposals being put forward by those opposed to further restrictions, given the uncertain effectiveness of the proposed restrictions (regardless of their unassailable common sense logic) and the effect the debate has on sustaining and perhaps even increasing our political and cultural polarization.
It will take a long time for the 2nd Amendment gun culture to moderate in this country if there is any chance that it will. But looking to firearms restrictions as the primary policy response to gun violence tends to implant such culture more deeply, lessening the chance that it will moderate over time.