[Charles Martel]

The point the author was making was that they wanted to sucker people into registering their guns with the promise that it wouldn’t lead to confiscation

Worked like a charm for Hitler. Of course, the German people were inclined to be unquestioning in such matters. Most Americans would not be so cheerfully obedient to the government's orders.

[Torcert]

Plus they have the advantage of hindsight - they know the scams that have been perpetrated before.