Let's say we can somehow (lol) get all law abiding citizens to turn in their guns in America. Guns are banned now! Only criminals have them!
Now, people with declining mental health start using vehicles to commit mass murders. Do we ban cars? Do we ban access to cars? Do you see the problem?
Just solve the mental health crisis. Then we don't need to have 9000 prohibitions along the way.
The success rate of law enforcement shouldn't be a determining factor on whether something should be illegal. I've never heard anyone say "everyone speeds, why is it illegal" or "cocaine is easy to get, why is it illegal"
As to crimimals and gun, at least for mass shooters -
77% of mass shooters obtained their guns legally [1]
As to the effectiveness of a ban-
In 1996 there was a school shooting in Dunbane (uk) that led to 16 deaths. Stricter laws were enacted next year Most handguns were made illegal in 1997.
Later "According to data compiled by the University of Sydney’s GunPolicy.org, the U.K.’s annual rate of gun deaths per 100,000 people was 0.2 in 2015, versus the United States’ rate of 12.09."[2]
Maybe it would take longer here, maybe it wouldn't be as effective but we know laws don't stop 100% of the crime but it helps
Why do people think that every mental health condition can be treated successfully? Why do people think that every bad thing someone does is due to a mental health condition?
In much the same way not all suicides have a diagnosable underlying mental health disorder, not all acts of aggression have a diagnosable mental health condition. Of those that do, only a proportion will respond to treatment.
Perfect mental health care will not make everyone's mental health perfect, in much the same way that perfect health care will not stop people dying.
