Will it ever be possible to get rid of all of them?
It's a bit like the nuclear genie. Getting rid of nuclear weapons will likely never happen. I feel that the chances are even less likely with guns.
You will never get rid of all guns. Even in countries with stricter gun control laws, guns are still accessible. I grew up in rural Canada and lots of people had guns. Including my neighbor who took me hunting a few times.
Of course, the argument is that if guns are controlled so that they cannot be easily purchased, the number of shootings and victims will inevitably decrease. The ball is in the public court. The debate is likely to drag on for years. The NRA is a powerful lobby that won't roll over quietly.
It's further complicated in the United States in that the 2nd Amendment provides the right to own firearms. So laws are limited with regards to restrictions. With that being said, there are some very simple common sense measures that most Americans support, such as closing the gun show loophole and limiting the types of weapons that are accessible.
And what of the black market? The old adage...that when guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns...seems apt. The number of random deaths by mass shootigs would inevitably decrease, however.
There are provisions that could be made regarding black market sales. Most of that would involve stricter penalties for the using a gun in the commission of a crime and also for anyone selling guns illegally. Not sure how strongly those types of measures are enforced, but it could help.
In my opinion, the biggest issue in the USA is the mindset. It's the gun culture. As I mentioned, I grew up in Canada. We have lots of guns in Canada. It's a hunting and fishing culture. Even handguns can be purchased, although it is much more difficult to get one.
But the big difference in my opinion is how people view their guns. In the USA, people seem to have an almost bizarre fixation on their gun. The culture seems to glorify usage of guns and the USA is one of the few countries I have seen that makes criminals into celebrities. Billy the Kid, Bonnie & Clyde, John Dillinger, etc. These individuals were murderers and criminals but they are treated in an almost iconic sense. I never really understood that when I moved here. But my suspicion is that is part of the problem as it pertains to the gun culture.
The other facet is the 'shoot first, ask questions later' mindset. To me, that is the worst possible message to send to anyone. People should consider usage of a gun as an absolute last resort. Not a knee-jerk reaction. De-escalating the situation is a far better option.
And finally, the USA also has this notion that it needs an armed populace in order to prevent a tyrannical government from taking over. This to me is the most nonsensical, anachronistic nonsense I can fathom. The guns available to the general population, even when accounting for assault weapons, are absolutely nothing compared to the firepower available to the US Military. If the government became tyrannical, we would actually look to our military to overthrow the corrupt government. Attempting to challenge the US Military with a civilian militia would be patently laughable. You may pick off a few infantry here and there. But when the tanks roll in and the Apache gunship has you in its sight, adios.
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