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First of all, I used the term "assault rifle", not "assault weapon". I have no idea if that makes any difference. I was referring to weapons such as the AK47.
Second, it is possible to place restrictions on the use of firearms without preventing ownership. For example, in Canada people are allowed to own handguns (with a license), but they must (generally) belong to a gun club, the weapons must be transported in a locked case, and they can only be transported to or from a firearm range. This allows ownership, which facilitates the notion of "civil defense", while still helping to encourage responsible ownership, and aid in enforcement of violations.
Third, gun control laws may or may not have an impact on the incidence of crime - the academic literature is mixed. However, the severity of crime is almost certainly reduced. Relative to the US, firearm murders, and murders in total, are much lower in most nations with gun control laws.
Effective gun control laws that govern the use of firearms, not necessarily possession, also prevent accidental shootings, particularly among children. Not everyone is as responsible as the typical forumite, and their children should not necessarily be punished for their stupidity.
Finally, complete registration of firearms would allow people who store them irresponsibly to be punished if they are misused. For example, if someone's handgun is stolen and used in a crime, the person from whom it was stolen could be held partially accountable.
Graham
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