The anti-gun crowd has learned much from the Niconazis successful campaign. To wit: don’t outlaw. Simply restrict the territory, like an anaconda strangling a bit at a time.
Shooters, look forward to fewer and fewer places to shoot and greater restrictions on “toxic” lead ammo, noise, and “poisonous” fumes. Oh yes, and higher taxes on your passtime each year.
I think your right about the Chinese government using the incrementalist "restrict the territory" method beloved by the nannies over here.
On a trip to PRC in 1998 I saw that they had smoke-free cars available (for a small surcharge) on intercity trains. By the time I went back in 2001, smoking on domestic airline flights had been banned.