you could do it quicker, like australia did, with a gun buy back scheme
Australia had a 60% turn in rate on around 1 million firearms, of which they now have more guns in civ hands than before the buy back. Yet still have a lower rate of gun deaths than we do. Why because they actually have safety nets and give a fuck about their citizens. If we had a 60% turn in rate, there would still be 100+ million firearms in civ hands. 100xs more than what Australia had.
regarding suicides, guns are way too easy. with most other methods, one needs to invest a more mental and physical effort, in which time they might change their minds, or others might intervene
Jumping off a building or hanging or any other form of suicide are the other 50% of suicide. So yes firearms are effective and heavily used but you still have 50% using other methods.
also insert the onion article title
While that's always a funny bit, it literally doesn't get the other reasons why it won't work. Prohibition doesn't work, but it's gonna magically work on firearms?