It's partly due to ignorance of firearms, muzzleloaders, or for that matter anything they are reporting on that they know little to nothing about, that creates the exagerated image they have in their minds. Combine that with the fact most reporters willfully twist the facts to sensationalize the story for the general public, who is also mostly ignorant of the truth, so it shouldn't be surprising that legislation against firearms is rampant. Unfortunately those same people also do not believe in stiffer penalties for criminal offenders and would rather believe that society has let the offender down by not educating those who in most cases don't want to be educated, but would rather feed on the weak. I, for one, am tired of society's approach that I should forgive a rapist, murderer, or armed robber and educate them because they are good at heart and we (society) let them down. Maybe time limits for appeals (2 years from the date of sentencing for example), and in the case of 2 or more reliable eye witnesses or video or photo evidence that is conclusive, a 6 month time limit from the date of sentencing. But I'm not running this show so we'll just deal with what the masses let the media fill their heads with.