The Solution that dare not be named

Some of my friends and others questioned my blogging regarding the gun control issue.  Lukewarm support for "common sense gun control" by democrats and absolute opposition to any restriction of "gun rights" by republicans has pretty well stalled anything like progress on this issue.  Less than 50 years ago, both parties subscribed to some well meaning measures and Lyndon Johnson actually signed a bill somewhat limiting guns.  Even as recently as the early 1990s, Ronald Reagan was on record opposing the Saturday night specials.  One of these cheap, disposable handguns nearly ended his life.  Funny how victims of shootings and their immediate family quickly see the virtue of limiting access to guns.  Of course, the real solution to the problem is twofold;  identifying and restricting access by the mentally ill and criminals to guns and rigorous taxing and regulation for the rest of us.  If someone wants to build an arsenal of legal guns, homeland security should know the location of said arsenal and there should be a tax on each and every weapon each year with an increase for each addition to the cache.  A legitimate hunter looking to put food on the table would not have to pay for the privilege, but the dilettante who wants to display 20 different hunting rifles can easily afford the tax.  The same could probably not be said of the Oregon shooter.  Forcing all gun owners to register their guns is well within the government's mandate to protect the commonwealth.  The easy slogans of the NRA regarding second amendment rights need to be challenged in the interests of the vast majority of citizens who are increasingly threatened by the proliferation of firearms.  There are now more guns in the US than people.  What does that say about our national character?