Larry:
I believe that I am now beginning to understand what is going on here. There are at least 4 major misconceptions I need to address.
1. The first is contained in your comment that, “the larger the numbers of people involved, the more likely you'll have more regulations to keep things civil.” If you and I are in agreement that we already are burdened with far too many laws in California, then we can state, in unison, that we don’t need any more. Civility will not be enhanced or improved with more laws. Please NOTE that at no time have I suggested that we don’t need laws, we just have enough and we have for many decades. Therefore, if we have enough and crime continues to rage on, then OBVIOUSLY, the solution lies elsewhere. The answer is simple, but it is not education. While I do not believe that the legal system in California is broken, it certainly needs some serious repairs. When it takes 10 years for the legal system to process the endless appeals in a death sentence case, justice is not served. We have a legislature and a court system that have run this state into the ground and whose solution to our economic woes is to release prisoners before their sentence is up. We have people who want to excuse an admitted child molester from prosecution but want to lock up innocent people who want to buy some ammunition. Is there really any question where our problems lie?????? The solution is the essence of simplicity, enforce existing laws, do so swiftly, and punish the bad guys.
2. The second is contained in your comment that, “ [it is ridiculous] to be allowed to own as many guns as you's like”. The problem we have here is that this kind of thinking leads to governmental limitations on how many things we are allowed to have. To impose such a regulation would be as ridiculous as the argument that you should not be allowed to own as many cars as you want, or own as many GPS units for your FJ as you want, or own as many ham radios as you want. Once we start letting someone else determine what we want, like or need, we have lost it all. It is no one’s business but mine how many of anything I own. Please note that even in California, there are no limits, as you seem to want.
3. The third misconception is contained in your comment, “Laws will deter some bad guys from further evil”. Name one.
4. The fourth misconception is contained in your statement that, “no easy solution will solve this dilemma, and much discussion is still needed, by rational, informed people, to work a fair compromise to those who choose to keep firearms, and for those who do not.” We must be consistent. We cannot agree we have enough laws and then state that we need more compromises from gun owners to solve the crime problem. By your own admission, more laws are not the answer. Gun owners are not the problem. We don’t need to compromise anymore. Enforce the law, do so swiftly, and punish the bad guys.
Oh, and by the way, my retirement is doing just fine, thank you for asking! As far as cats are concerned, I believe there should be a limit
(just for you, Larry)
John: you are my new hero - those were great videos.
) my page long rebuttal to the statements you presented just vaporized when I hit the "submit" button (do I smell conspiracy here ? 
