Going somewhat crosswise to the topic here, but I find all the remarks about children being "endangered" most interesting...

Other than the brute strength bits, I could (and did) diassemble, clean and reassemble any of my father's guns/rifles before I was six. Never once did I so much as go near them if he wasn't right there beside me. He ingrained respect for the power of firearms so deeply within me that to this day I cannot point a gun at someone in jest, even if I have verified for myself that the chamber/barrel/magazine is empty.

On the other hand, as an adult having served in the military, I can say with complete confidence: while I pray that (gods forbid) I never have to shoot anyone, I sure as hell ain't gonna miss.

My point is, _education and parenting_, more than anything else, are the real issues here, when it comes to children and guns. I think too many people want to pass the buck on this, when really it belongs right in each of our laps. When my son was young I did not keep guns in the house, though we discussed gun safety fairly regularly, along with other important topics. (What to do if you find one, what to do if a friend has one, etc.)

Sadly, common sense cannot be legislated. Even worse, the types of parent who can't or won't display any sense are exactly the ones who would be unaffected by attempts to legally "force" it on them. (Witness the recent 6 yr old who murdered a classmate, whose parents were dealing drugs and apparently had a houseful of stolen and "lost" weapons.)

I have no problem with a waiting period, and I believe anyone who actively carries should be required to take periodic safety/training classes.

I don't like hunting for sport, though if people actually USE what they kill I have no problem with it. I agree that guns are a tool -- though granted, a largely unnecessary one. There will always be people on the violent fringes of things... AND people who need protection from them. But blanket anti-gun laws will not make either of those problems go away.

My $0.02

*elektra*