Divine_Malevolence
A competition, then.
I make alcohol. You make a working firearm.
The reason why firearms are in no way the same as alcohol, or weed, or any drug, is because of one important fact.
Drugs don't require much mechanical skill to make. Many are plants, and distilleries aren't the hardest thing to come by. You're never going to get rid of drugs because they can be grown or easily produced.
Guns?
Guns are complex mechanisms. One mechanical flaw could jam them in a way that most criminals would have no idea how to fix. And considering what they'd probably have to work with....
Lets just say that if any of them did have the competence to make firearms of any caliber, they'd probably become this huge thing what's exceptionally easy to track down.
Guns would be more expensive and thus far less common. More difficult to obtain, more difficult to smuggle with the intention of a sale, impossible to dispose of during an inspection.
But the problem with Mexico is an interesting one. A solution to that would probably be do dissolve the cartels via destroying their source of revenue a while before making the change.
I was only using the Prohibition as an example of how the people will do what they will by any means to obtain what they want. Case and point:
1. Firearms don't have to look exactly like the handguns, rifles, and so forth. People will find ways to modify a certain tool (for instance a nail gun), replace the nails with bullets, create a better firing mechanism, and there they have their own modified gun. Granted this could be good or bad depending on how well this person is able to modify the tool, but it becomes a firearm none the less with a trigger and potentially fast projectile.
2. If someone was capable of creating a fully reliable handgun, rifle, and so forth, the people that wish to keep their firearms will do everything in their power to keep that weapons maker/producer undercover and allow them to continue producing some weapons. Money has a lot to do with this for if a rich person wishes to obtain guns, he'll spend any amount to have the person make them and keep the whole project under wraps. Works more effectively when a group of people with the same goal (in this case owning firearms) will do anything to keep the secret and use that money to continue producing firearms.
Consider the possibility of an underground gun factory. You'll have the leader, perhaps the person with the most wealth of the group. He basically seeks and finds men to create the weapons. He'll use his money to protect these producers and keep their safety a main priority in the business (probably big body guards that will learn how to use the guns that the producers make). Not only that, he'll be able to obtain the items necessary to build such weapons. Next he'll have his different group of dealers. They'll take the guns and sell to people on the street and obtain the money from the public (the middle man who will help the leader of the factory gain a profit). The customers that wish to keep the firearms will most likely keep the secret especially if they are selling to criminals that can afford it.
3. There is also the chance of stealing firearms from the police force, National Guard or military. Though the idea seems crazy, people will do anything to get such weapons. If they are able to obtain tazers, use bow and arrows, the modified nail gun and so forth, they'll get the weapons that they desire. After such stealing, they might sell the weapons to citizens/terrorists/criminals that want them. It doesn't have to involve just creating the weapons. (I know National Guard and military seem like crazy ideas, but people who are desperate for something will do anything to get it)
4. Corrupted police officers, National Guard and military. There could be citizens that may work for our protection, but may use the power of owning a firearm to their own advantage. They could eventually take the firearms from their department (describing such stolen weapons as "faulty and disassembled) and sell them in the black market.
I will admit that banning will narrow down prevent some criminals from obtaining firearms, but again it won't eliminate guns completely from the public.