I agree the average citizen should not be able to person a high powered assault rifle, let alone a hand gun. However, the US situation would likely not change even laws were (that doesn't mean they shouldn't try). For example Chicago has among the most strict gun laws in the US - as of midnight Saturday, Chicago police had recorded 486 murders in the city this year, compared to 521 for the same period in 2016.  2,718 people shot in Chicago this year. This is little consolation for victims of this disgusting massacre but unless the US can reduce quantity of guns on the streets (through confiscation or cash rewards for handing over guns), how will it change? The laws cannot be changed over night - even the discussion of more strict laws result in a surge of assault rifle sales and associated ammunition. The US needs to reduce the supply of guns and ammunition - looking at Chicago, how can they do this without warrantless search and seizure by authorities?