RDM59: Yes, I get your point. The eye for an eye principle, if it involves violence will only serve to justify the act. This is the wrong teaching. But I still believe in a death penalty in special cases.
We are no longer allowed to discipline children in our homes or schools, this has allowed a generation who have no respect for authority and will, IMO, lead to anarchy, what possible good can come from saying we cannot smack an unruly child because it gives the child the idea violence is good, but its fine to kill someone who may have committed a crime.
And as for banning people not guns, well I think the past few days in America has shown that no one is responsible enough to own a gun, so okay lets keep guns but ban all ammunition other than blanks.