I realize a car is not a gun ;-) but cars are more dangerous than guns: more people die as a result of car crashes than are killed using firearms. Check out http://www.statehealthfactsonline.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=118&cat=2

Public response has been to demand safer roads and vehicles, legislation, and public education. We accept licensing. We stop at red lights. we wear seat belts. Obvious risk factors (driving drunk, driving blind, bald tires, driving a semi rig from coast to coast non-stop) have been identified and rendered shameful to the law-abiding community. Billions have been spent improving the safety of tons of metal hurtling down freeways. As a result, deaths and accidents from cars have reduced substantially in the last 20 years. Sure criminals flout the laws, but it's still safer for everybody.

In 2007 the biggest risk to the freedom to drive is the fact that cars burn oil, but that's another topic. ;-)

If people were willing to behave the same way towards firearms as we behave towards cars, there'd be no dispute IMHO. Instead a lot of people seem to gravitate to the extremes with one side saying that any reduction of freedom involving guns is an affront and the other arguing that total removal of privileges is the only answer.

The irony is that many (most?) firearm holders are responsible, maintaining and securing their firearms sensibly and participating in ongoing safety training. Formalizing that behavior in law makes it more difficult for future nanny government to impose something more draconian. JMHO.