This is how I think they will do it. They will convince people to turn in their guns voluntarily. The hold outs, and there will be many, will be pressured into doing voluntarily using high taxation, banning ammo, cleaning supplies and other items. They will fill false charges of child endangerment and public nuance. They will use guilt and peer pressure to force “voluntary” compliance. They may jail some with harsh sentences as an example but I believe the real plan is to convince the people to basically cut their own throats for the good of the country.
I think you are correct. The boiling the frog strategy has really worked for the left in so many ways. They would overplay their hand with a sudden, draconian seizure or mandatory turn in. However, Cuomo may be trying to spark violence so he can crush it and justify even more authoritarian actions.