I must admit, my views on the subject of gun violence and gun control have evolved somewhat.
There was a time only a few years ago (when Bush was pushing the assault weapons ban) that I believed that any kind of gun control was a trojan horse for a police state.
While my views don't fit what most people on either side of the aisle have done, I do have some ideas on how to curb gun violence in America using modest controls and by taking a few proactive steps on matters outside of firearms laws that could have a major impact.
I am coming from the perspective of someone who has, at various times, owned firearms (a Bersa Thunder .380 pistol from 2008 to 2012 and a Ruger 10/22 take down model from 2013 to 2014). I am familiar with many of the ins and outs of firearms laws and I have identified a number of weaknesses that we could plug while still allowing sport shooters, hobbyists, and hunters to keep their guns.
My propositions may seem to not go far enough to some and extremely far-reaching to others, but I've looked at the problem globally and how various countries have handled it, and I've taken ideas from around the world into account.
1. Require a license for all semi-automatic rifles and pistols.
Limiting access to semi-automatic rifles is a positive step. I do not use the term "assault weapon" here because a good many "sporterized" semi-auto rifles can be easily modified to fit the legal definition of an "assault weapon" with accessories, and many of the semi-auto firearms used in rampage shootings do not fit the legal definition of an assault weapon (the Columbine High School massacre was carried out with firearms that were legal under the 1994 ban); for all intents and purposes they are the same thing. While an outright ban on semi-auto weapons has been attempted in some coutnries with modest success, I am skeptical that an outright ban would help in this country on the grounds that I'm generally skeptical of prohibition culture. Allowing an accessible, affordable, and easily-navigable licensing scheme would help screen dangerous people while still giving sport shooters, hobbyists, and people with a legitimate need for self-defense while preventing the creation of an enormous black market.
2. Require a five day waiting period nationwide.
For sport shooters, hunters, and collectors/hobbyists, there is no reason not to wait a little while to make a purchase. While someone determined to go on a rampage may plan for months on end, a few days to cool off would help stop crimes of passion and spur-of-the-moment rampages.
I think there should be a handful of circumstances where this requirement can be waived, such as when an abused spouse who has taken out a restraining order is concerned that they may be targeted for violence, or in the case of vulnerable people such as those beginning a gender transition who can show a letter from their therapist proving their status.
3. Require a letter from a psychiatrist to purchase restricted firearms
While it is immoral and incorrect to simply assume that anyone with a mental health condition is dangerous and ban all of them from possessing weapons (the mentally ill are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators), there should be some consideration for the individual and their fitness to own a restricted firearm. By doing this in addition to creating a licensing restriction to semi-automatic weapons (which are currently treated the same way as bolt-action or revolver type weapons and are not restricted by the Firearms Acts of 1934, 1968, or 1986 as machine guns are), we can reduce the number of disturbed individuals who are able to acquire enough firepower to go on a rampage.
4. Require universal background checks on all sales
This is a no-brainer. The so-called "gun show loophole" (actually a misnomer since it only applies to person-to-person sales and not to gun shows) does make it incredibly easy for anyone to buy or sell a firearm. When I sold my Ruger 10/22, I at least made sure that the purchaser had a concealed handgun license in good standing but many private sellers aren't so scrupulous. Making all gun sales and transfers uniform reduces the possibility of person-to-person sales being a conduit for violent criminals to buy firearms.
5. A single-payer health care system with comprehensive mental health care
While access to mental health is not the panacea that some people would like to think, if used in conjunction with other measures it could generally improve the quality of life for many Americans. It's a good idea regardless but it could have some impact on reducing the number of rampage shootings.
6. Equip fewer police with guns and more police with less-lethal weapons
With so many police shootings lately we have to ask ourselves, does every officer really need to carry a gun? Less-lethal options have been available to years and while tasers and mace are certainly subject to abuse, they are less likely to kill someone outright. There also needs to be more accountability for police who use lethal force including a nationwide database of police killings and a federal force to prosecute police who kill without cause. We cannot, under any circumstances, ignore the police element in gun violence since the number of people killed by police in the US continues to outpace the number killed in rampage shootings.
7. Fix disparities in gun law enforcement
Currently, women and minorities tend to face harsher punishments for cases of self-defense with a firearm, gun crimes, and assault than their white counterparts. A nationwide task force to ensure that these laws are enforced equally is badly, desperately needed so that you don't end up with white men shooting burglars execution style and going free while battered women who use a gun for self-defense get 20 years in prison.
8. Stop trivializing the culture of violence
The real battleground against gun violence starts in the hearts and minds of the people. Currently, American culture has a problem with trivializing and even glorifying violence as a means to an end. While attempts to fix this problem with legislation will probably fail, a more grassroots movement to call out media and politicians who use violent rhetoric, images, or scenes of real or simulated violence to a gratuitous degree should be a major priority. I find it ironic that it is more acceptable in this country to show death and dismemberment on day-time television than it is to show tender, mutually-consenting sex between loving partners. That is exactly the sort of sick culture that allows gun violence to flourish and we need to stop tolerating it.