Regulation of sale, possession and use of firearms

In the past week, CNN, MSNBC and USA Today have publicized the results of a new study that found that tougher gun laws CAN and DO have an effect on homicide rates. The study found that states with the strictest gun laws did in fact experience a lower overall mortality rate from firearms than states with the least or weakest gun laws.
Average citizens have no need for guns with a capacity for more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The assertion that it is their 'right' to own such weapons conflicts with the rights of other ordinary citizens to live without fear of violence against themselves, their family members, and their society as a whole.
While thorough background checks are necessary, they are far from resolving the problem. The assumption that mental illness is the culprit rather than firearms does nothing more than further stigmatize an already marginalized group. The NRA pushes to blame the 'mentally ill' in order to further their own agenda. Reality is, the average killer is not mentally ill. The average killer is experiencing rage, seeking revenge or enjoys feeling 'entitled'.
The issue is not gun ownership. The issue is the ownership of assault type firearms by ordinary citizens who have no 'need' of such weapons. If the Sandy Hook shooter was armed with a handgun with a 10 shot magazine rather than an assault rifle capable of firing 4 rounds per second, the outcome would have been dramatically different.