It is much, much, MUCH easier to ban sales of certain types of firearms (and that’s iffy in terms of enforcement) than it is to confiscate what are already in private hands.
CA, MA, CT, NY, NJ, HI, & MD are the bluest of the blue states and have passed ex post facto assault weapons bans (making illegal what had been legal). These laws have been flouted by the vast majority of semi-auto owners in those states, even where firearms owner ID cards are mandatory.
Four starred senior state cops have huffed & puffed on TV “Don’t make me send out my boys to knock on doors!” and then walked back their threats. Ominous letters have been sent to owners & then it’s “Letter? What letter?” from the powers that be.
Ultraliberal Hawaii sent letters to thirty (30!) medical marijuana card holders ordering them to turn in their guns within 30 days. Now, that order “is under review”.
The definition of stupid legislation is passing laws that no one will obey and that no one wants to have to enforce.
NCIS gun buyer checks continue to break records. The culture war against liberty didn’t end with the retirement of Obama. Distrust of government minions & their intentions is real and for the citizen, means backing up his/her freedom by means of arms, just as the Founders intended.
I foresee lots of tragic boating accidents in those blue states should they get really serious about confiscation.