Considerations of symbolic gun policy.

Good policy is not dependent on having good ends in mind, nor on the importance of achieving those ends.

It's a lot easier to create symbolic policies that purport to achieve a particular end than to create one that actually achieves those ends.

Gun control policies are no different.

First, consider that the desired policies are prohibitionist in character. Such policies have generally not been very effective, have resulted in violence-ridden black markets, and have been enforced with excessive violence by police forces that have been corrupted by bootleggers.

What is the plan to make this prohibition more effective than past ones, with less violence and corruption as side effects?

Second, consider that laws are normally enforced in a racially discriminatory manner. What is the plan to minimize such discriminatory enforcement, or are you willing to accept it as an unfortunate cost?

Third, what is the plan for effectively removing hundreds of millions of guns (up to a half billion) from mostly peaceful and otherwise law abiding people without massive violations of 4th Amdt. rights (let's assume we've repealed the 2nd, so it's no obstacle)? Or are you willing to accept the wholesale violation of 4th Amdt. rights if necessary?

Fourth, if we do engage in confiscation by some means, what is the plan for managing the cost of adding tends of millions of people to our court and prison systems?

Fifth, assume we decide not to confiscate existing guns - which means we've already accepted that our policy will be largely symbolic - but only disallow new ones, what is the plan for controlling smuggling of guns across the borders? Particularly, what is the plan for controlling it more effectively than we've controlled the smuggling of drugs or people?

Sixth, what is the plan for preventing people from making their own guns with 3D printers? Will we violate the 1st Amdmt. by prohibiting the dissemination of gun printing plans?

In brief, can a government outwit a determined people without becoming increasingly authoritarian?

If you are not thinking about those questions, you are not thinking seriously about gun control. "Ban assault rifles" is not a plan, it is a plea. But a plea is not an effective policy nor even the basis for an effective policy.