I would offer the following proposal on gun control. My proposal is based on a system/infrastructure we already have in place: the automobile. The principles around managing the automobile are based on five thoughts: 1) licensing; 2) registration; 3) insurance; 4) high-level policies at the national level, local implementation of policy at the state level; 5) national agency to conduct research and further policy. I propose furthering these to the ownership and use of guns

Licensing

Everyone who wants to own a gun is required to have a license. Requirements based on a minimum age, knowledge about and use of guns testing will be established by testing, as will the procedure for acquiring a license. This license will be issued by states. States will have the ability to set requirements above the minimum. A license in one state should not guarantee a license in another (although states might choose to honor the licenses of other like-minded states) Like automobile licenses, gun licenses will need to be renewed annually. When and how will be left to state legislatures.

Registration

Every gun will be registered. Registration fees will be set by states, but should consider factors about the gun (size, automatic, semi-automatic, hand gun, rifle, for example) in determining the registration price. Each gun registration shall be valid for no more than one year. Failure to have a registration for a gun shall result in its immediate confiscation and potential destruction.

Insurance

Every gun will need to be insured. Proof of insurance will be required to register a gun. Insurance will be offered as insurers see fit, but liability insurance will be required. Insurance will also be offered through Federal agencies, akin to flood insurance from FEMA.

National Policies

A national gun policy agency, akin to the Department of Transportation, shall be established to set national policies on gun ownership and on the social impact of gun ownership. Gun technology, recommendations on the future of guns, “smart” guns, and so on would also be under its purview.

Things I Like Most About This

1. It builds on existing policies and would be a familiar structure to all Americans
2. It does not restrict the number of guns nor the 2nd Amendment right to possess one, it simply regulates their use
3. It would create jobs (think of schools for training in gun use/safety as part of the licensing process, the infrastructure required to put this in place, annual fees and such)
4. As unregistered guns would over time be increasing hard to obtain, it might make the black market price for a gun prohibitively high (black market assault guns in Australia go in excess of $40,000 US)
5. While it would not keep folks from doing bad things (as they do with uninsured, unregistered automobiles), it would raise the expectation bar, and frame the discussion on gun ownership and use
6. Arguments against privacy would be reduced because everyone would be required to follow specific rules and no one would be legally exempt from  providing gun information (and why is it that no one objects on the grounds of privacy to automobile VIN’s, regulations, licenses?)