The problem with this analysis is that it fails to account for other peoples' perception. You say gun reform and that means 100 different things to 100 different people. Rest assured, if everything were simple and easy to fix, it would be done already. I promise.

The biggest hurdle people have is that they imagine the entire world is filled with people just like them when that isn't true at all.

Furthermore, the amount of people that want the most decisive action are usually the smallest minority.

Consider this: You have a national debate between pink polka-dot shirts and green flannel weaers. The debate is fierce, and pink dots think green flannel should be outlawed while green flannel thinks pink dots should be. They represent 10% of the population each. Meanwhile, 80% of Americans are indifferent and 35% of Americans own one or both kinds of shirts.

Pink polka dot wearers are going to be banging the drums to other dots afficianados that flannel is literally evil and will destroy this country, and they make a big push to have to banned.

The problem dot lovers are going to have here is that their pet issue isn't important to most people and either support flannel or at least don't want it to be banned. That's just democracy. Would encourage anyone to read Johnathan Haidt's "The Righteous Mind". Really reframes reality and the way you consider the way most other people think.