has anyone ever seen a well reasoned and intellectually honest statement from a gun banner?
Yes - in France, Australia, the UK, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany - all have certain restrictions on certain kinds of weapons. The vast majority of people are happy with those restrictions...go figure...
Not sure how you think this appeal to popularity is intellectually honest.
It is not an appeal to popularity, but a response to those who claim gun restrictions will not work.
It's a poor response. The UK, Norway,and Germany have all had mass shooting events after their gun control was enacted. But looking at overall crime, it has not decreased in those countries since gun control. Actually the opposite.
So that argument is a fail.
It was going to be because there is no, absolutely no, well reasoned intelligent argument for gun control. None.