“One of the most frequently repeated tropes about gun laws and regulations is that they are ineffective, or—worse yet—ultimately useless at thwarting the adverse consequences of guns. Yet one need not search far to find effective gun laws, or to understand why this is so often said about gun regulation.
“The lessons of the 1934 law are several. First, gun regulations can be effective if they are written with effectiveness as a bona fide goal. Second, a thorough, detailed background check and waiting period process to qualify for a handgun permit, as exists today in some states, is more effective in identifying disqualifying factors than the current National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Third, licensing and registration are very effective strategies in keeping guns out of the hands of those who should not have them. A growing body of contemporary research confirms the efficacy of these regulatory devices and others, like waiting periods.” – Robert J. Spitzer, The Regulatory Review, Effective Gun Regulation Can Be Compatibly with Gun Rights