A few random observations:
First, there is no point discussing a ban of all guns or even all handguns. There is no political will for it, and, even if there were, it would be patently unconstitutional. If you think that it is going to happen, you are living in a fantasy land.
Second, while the numbers of gun-related deaths in the United States is high (~31,000), this number is artificially inflated because over half of these deaths are suicides (~17,000). These deaths really aren't attributable to the ease of access to guns because, for the most part, suicidal people are going to find a way to kill themselves anyway. The fact that they do so by guns in the United States skews the numbers.
Third while incidents like Sandy Hook capture our national attention (as they should), the reality is that the vast majority of gun deaths are perpetrated by criminals (i.e., people who were criminals beforehand) and gang members. When we think about what regulations to enact, we need to assume that only law-abiding citizens are going to comply. Gang-bangers aren't going to register or buy insurance for their guns.
Fourth, and related, on the assumption that criminals aren't going to self-report their gun ownership (which is a safe assumption considering the Supreme Court has held that criminals have a constitutional right to avoid registering their illegal guns under the self incrimination clause), I don't really see what a national registry would accomplish. In any event, the idea of a national registry is problematic because one of the principles underlying the Second Amendment is that, just as a jury in a criminal trial interposes a human buffer as a weapon between the state and the individual, a gun interposes a literal weapon between a tyrannous regime and the individual. It defeats the point to have that tyrannous regime keep a log of who owns the weapon against tyranny. And yes, I'm fully aware that a gun isn't going to prevail against the United States war machine, but that really isn't the point. The point is that I have the right to go down swinging, and, thus, possibly deter the tyranny to begin with. And if you think the idea of the United States attacking its citizens is loony bins, I suggest you read a little history.
