Thoughts on Gun Ownership

I have had several discussions with two different people who have spent very little time around firearms and because these are people who were not extremely right or left wing personalities I wanted to know what their stance was on individual gun ownership and if they had any leanings one way or the other. Not surprisingly both had been influenced by the recent media blitz against guns as well as the shootings that have taken place this year. Both of them had heard the recent numbers of 80 or 90% of the guns in Mexico had been traced to the US, both were surprised to learn the facts behind the myth. Needless to say those numbers alone are not enough to sway an individual though. Both people could recall any stories of law abiding citizens actually using a weapon in self defense, but both had seen the 60 minutes report stating that non-law enforcement people were more likely to harm themselves or others with a weapon during times of danger. When I told them that I could find at least 6 examples of normal citizens using a firearm to protect their family during the last year, both of them rolled their eyes. I just went to "The Armed Citizen" and guess what I found 6 instances where homeowners used their firearms without harming any innocents from last in two months alone. After hearing the arguments from them, I can definitely understand their point of view to an extent. There are many people out there with guns that do not respect them and would not know what to do if something happened.  On the same note their are even more people in this country with a license for something that can be just as dangerous to themselves and others, a car.

I am curious if the answer to gun ownership / the right to carry should be similar to what we do with vehicles. Anyone can purchase a vehicle of almost any type (even an 18 wheeler) and operate it on their own property without a license or insurance. But once you enter the public domain, it is required for that individual to take a written and physical driving test supposedly certifying they know how to operate said vehicle (how some people get a license I will never know).  Should guns be the same? Would this help aleviate some people's concern about an individual's ability to handle a firearm? We already do this for hunting licenses, personally I would not be opposed to a test for the carry permit, but I am opposed to the government stating what I can and can not own in the confines of my own property. Of the two people I talked to 1 said he would support this type of movement, but the other said that there should also be proof of the security of guns while stored in the home and they should be limited to people who have had proper training to handle them.  Unfortunately I beilieve if something of this nature were instituted in today's administration it could not be trusted and would be accompanied by other items limiting our 2nd Ammendment Freedoms. So needless to say I do not want any additional laws, but I can understand some people's concern.

What are your thoughts? I am curious.