On the 2nd amendment thread I'd posted the following comment:

Quote Originally Posted by jp1 View Post
I think the thing about this entire conversation that I find so dispiriting is that the people in favor of the status quo are so certain that no solution will have any impact in reducing these senseless deaths that they continually argue that there's no point in even bothering to try and find a solution to this problem. And by extension since it's unsolvable no problem even exists.
After reading through this thread I have to say that I am much heartened to see a good debate on possible solutions and their merits or lack of merit, carried out mainly by the gun owners on this forum.

I can't pretend that I know what will work to actually solve the problem of gun deaths in the US. My hope is that we'll figure out a combination of solutions that will work, much as we have with drunk driving. Obviously we haven't outlawed cars or drinking, yet through a combination of several things 1) lowering the acceptable blood alcohol level for operating a car, 2) increasing the penalties for drunk driving, 3) punishment for bars that over-serve patrons, and 4) public education on the dangers of drunk driving, we've managed to reduce the number of drunk driving tragedies significantly. Drunk driving hasn't gone away entirely, and it didn't get reduced to its current level in a day or week or even a year. But it happened over time.

If we, as a society, can figure out a parallel combination of methods to reduce senseless gun deaths over the coming years/decades while respecting the right of gun owners to continue to be gun owners I will be happy.