Would restricting their sale make the anti-gun crowd happier? Yes. It's not a matter of prevention,
it's a matter of perception.
How do you really restrict the sale of existing guns? If you simply
say they are not legally transferable, a lot of people would sell them
under the table. Most people are not going to just throw away several
hundred dollars for an AK/AR or well over a thousand for my M1A.
Actually there are AR platforms that are well over a thousand too.
You missed the point. It's a matter of perception, not prevention. By outlawing the sale of the guns
by licensed dealers you've addressed the question and pleased those who are pushing for same. There
is a perception amongst the crowd doing the pushing that 'something has been done'. Effective? No.
Licensed dealers would turn in the guns to the government and be reimbursed for their cost. If they
tried to sell under the table, they'd likely be caught. Other folks, like Harry with his 'assault
rifle' wouldn't be touched...yet.