My outlook is different, only my opinion, but,,, Our government is not an "Evil Monster", it is an "Ignorant Boob". It does not know what we want.
Our government is nothing more than an elaborate popularity contest. The most popular politicians are the ones that get reelected. They are popular with the poor because they provide bigger and better wefare programs. They are popular with the rich because they lower taxes. They are popular with the oil companies because they allow drilling in more wilderness areas. They are popular with the eco fanatics because they do not allow drilling in wilderness areas. They are popular with everyone because they promise to reduce crime. (Brady and friends tell them that controlling guns is controlling crime. The NRA and friends tell them it is not.)
Even more important, promising to do something does not mean they have to do it. Their prize (reelection) is awarded on how many people think they will get what they want, not on what they actually get, after the election.
Today at election time, only 20 percent of registered voters bother to vote. (I wonder how many more could register if they wanted too?). Three hundred million american citizens. Twenty percent means,,,sixty million voters? Some minor parties, Libertarians, greens, whoever drag off a few votes, say ten million? That leaves fifty million people deciding our national elections. twenty five million for Democrat, or republican will win.
We are losing our gun rights. We are losing them because 70 million gun owners do not care. The politicians are responding to the people that vote for them. That does not make them evil. It does not make the laws they pass evil. The politicians are doing what they are told by their supervisors. Did you tell them what YOU want?