I must admit, you're absolutely right. The UK is getting bad for banning things. Even schools ban kids from having fun! It's crazy really.
In regards to guns and knives, if I'm honest, I'd rather take my chances against someone with a knife than someone who can stand metres away and take aim.
The sad thing is, all these gun arguments comes after events such as these. It's the victims and their families I think about. As for the politic side of things.. I really don't know what would be the best thing, and I would never pretend to. I just wish everyone could get along. But then, I'm sure everyone thinks the same thing!
How about doctors stop prescribing mind altering drugs? How about people on those drugs not being allowed to keep their guns perhaps? You get a prescription for said drug, and you don't get the drug until you turn in your weapons. Even that doesn't work though. How about we ban predators and sociopaths? Nope. That doesn't work either. We can remove them from society though. That does work.
Guns in the hands of potential victims is the best way to remove those predators from society.
Better yet, predators tend not to attack armed victims. This is why rapes declined so precipitously in Florida after women there were encouraged to carry concealed firearms. It's also why unions exist in America.