Merle,
In answer to your point, guns in responsible, trained hands, don't cause crime, because the owners know the true value of tha damage they can cause. It is the other side of the coin, illegally held weapons that cause the dramas!
Due to such a varied view on firearms laws across the world, let alone all the individual States in the U.S, it will always be "that" hot potato no one individual or Government wants to address.
Currently, the European Parliament is putting more effort into stopping the purchase or resale of Deactivated guns let alone firing ones!!