I know, it's mind blowingly complex and a hard concept to grasp that there could actually be a link between "getting a gun" and "shooting someone with a gun" but it's possible that it's there. Just just have to remove the NRA cult goggles.
Simon unless I'm missing it I don't think anyone on here denies that correlation and also most (even pro-gun folks) are not saying anything against tighter restriction, most want it as well.
What I do see is when someone says that saying ban all guns is not likely a reality they are accused of being a gun nut and supporting the NRA. And its not even that they themselves wouldn't like them all banned its just acknowledgement of reality. Even if every developed country in the world banned them, there will still be supply and demand, that is not saying that it won't reduce violence, its just one solution to a large complex problem of humans who are determined to harm one another.
When someone points out the accountability of the shooter or shooters be they loan deranged individuals or part of religious extremism, they are not necessarily downplaying the role of guns in it just by saying there other unacceptable issues at play too. Still on here if you say anything other than ban guns its taken as you are NRA right wing gun nut promoting a gun agenda and that is just not true.
Simply put some people acknowledge that banning guns is no more going to happen than someone is going to wave a magic wand and make them all disappear. If the discussion is would them all disappearing have an affect yes it would. N body here would deny that. But its part of your jumping to alternate reality, we have to deal with this one we are in. I really feel anyone discussing other aspects of the issues is not preaching gun rights by default.