That’s not true.
First, as @
allegate mentioned, we DID ban alcohol, for many years; and it was a disaster, with gangs and guns protecting the bootleg trade, so we reversed it. Most states HAVE strict laws including laws related to “assault” weapons;
we even BANNED them from 1994 - 2004.
Democrats has a super-majority in 2008; the President and Congress were Democrats. They could have passed a PERMANENT assault weapons ban, without the sunset clause that was in the prior AWB. They didn't. Perhaps because the Dems lost most elections after the ban in 1994? Stats show the vast majority of shootings in the U.S. are actually attributed to handguns.
The drunk who drives is worse than not planning to hurt anyone; he doesn’t CARE if he hurts or kills anyone.
But, laws are a DETERRENT; they don’t and can’t prevent anything.
Again, I don't own an "assault" weapon, I don't see a use for them, but maybe because I've been in law for so long and have that logic ingrained in my head I know that the strictest laws possible still won't prevent this. Sure, maybe it's worth a shot (no pun intended) but to scream BAN THEM when the current ones will simply be grandfathered in (they will), and the guy in Texas got guns when he wasn't supposed to have a gun can't and won't prevent this shit.
I honestly don't have an answer, sometimes there just isn't an answer that is tangible.
Here is a good article.