...for the general public, only firearms suitable for Sport...Not War...should be accessible...e.g. Target Shooting with a bolt action rifle firing .22 LR rounds...or Hunting with a bolt action rifle firing .30 type rounds.
As for Personal Protection, I've previously posted evidence (from Police surveys) that guns for this purpose are FAR more likely to be involved in misuse, theft or suicide than against robbery or assault...therefore, they should be heavily regulated, and licensed...much more than current laws...also, Assault Rifles have no place in this scenario.
Would such an approach eliminate ALL gun deaths?...of course not...BUT given the evidence we have already...i.e. the U.S. gun death volume and rate...we can't let 'Perfection be the Enemy of Good'...since these measures would dramatically reduce gun deaths...just look at other democracies around the world that have taken this path.