First of all, I own guns. Secondly, I am against gun registration. But, I was recently at a large gun show (where I actually bought an AR-15 from a private seller) and saw something that made me start to reconsider my thinking on background checks: there were two young gang-member-type thugs looking seriously at a 50-cal rifle.
Of course, I don't think many of us would object to universal background checks if we knew 100% for sure that would be the extent of the controls. But, unfortunately, this administration has demonstrated that they cannot be trusted, and that they would like to take all guns away from everyone, except, of course, those they deem worthy. And, I have it on good authority that those background checks do go into a database, which is what we were all afraid would occur. But, the idea of gang members owning a 50-cal rifle also concerns me.
Here is my conclusion: Thugs and criminals will always be able to get guns - gun control really only affects law-abiding citizens. Starting down the slippery slope of universal background checks and gun registration can never, based on our experience, be undone. So I'm willing to sacrifice the ability of thugs to buy 50-cal rifles at a gun show for my right to legally own firearms.
They may not have been looking to buy it, but to follow the owner home and steal it later.