My estimate is from seven to ten years. The problem is to slow down the increasing number of handguns sold in this country. The second problem is to get them all registered.
And the final problem is to make the possession of all handguns and all handgun ammunition — except for the military, policemen, licensed security guards, licensed sporting clubs, and licensed gun collectors — totally illegal.”
So Shields basically thought he could achieve "total control of handguns" in the United States by about 1986.
27 years past his future target date, there are more handguns than ever (although I'm sure the percentage of Americans who own them has probably decreased), and the Supreme Court has ruled that they can't be taken away.
***Supreme Court has ruled that they can’t be taken away. ***
As Andrew Jackson said about the Supreme Court...”The Supreme court has made it’s decision, now let’s see them enforce it!” (On the Indian removal to Oklahoma)