I respect your experience and opinion, but I think it's a mistake to put guns and dogs in the same category. Whether we like it or not, dogs are somewhat independent actors in their own existence.
Even an irresponsible gun owner still has to PULL the trigger.
That's why I think some regulations or ordinances(requiring obedience school for larger dogs and leash laws strictly enforced) are in order, whereas the free man should be presumed free to own firearms, knives, clubs and stun guns.
Instances I described were precisely similar.