One thing I’d really like to see is a sober assessment of statistical risk in drafting any policy proposals. Political capital is always a finite resource and handguns are the weapons involved in some 85% or so of every kind of firearms offense. I have no problem at all with regulating semi-automatic assault rifles and feel for the survivors and families of victims of mass shootings, but if we let the crimes that get lots of news coverage determine what we choose to focus on first we’re going to start off nibbling away at a small slice of the pie. The problem with that is that when our already historically low homicide rate doesn’t fall appreciably the opponents of gun control will gain a big rhetorical talking point. If we’re about making lasting progress we have to be a bit cold and pragmatic about how we prioritize and schedule our efforts.