I've run into many ~people~ who think this way. That doesn't mean that it is anywhere near politically viable. The reason politicians say things like "No one is coming to take your guns" is because for the foreseeable future they aren't.
There are certainly efforts to erode most of our rights - from privacy to freedom of speech to the right to bear arms, even the right to vote. From both sides of the aisle and over a much longer period of time than most people talk about.
But the political (pitiful excuse for) discourse in the country has largely degenerated into a game of chicken between ideological fundamentalists leaving most of us between those extremes thinking "WTF?"
The reason most people favoring "gun control" don't talk about prohibition and bans is not because they don't believe in it, but simply because it is not politically expedient to do so. The strategy has shifted from "total ban" to "incrementalism", whereby a total ban will be achieved over the long term via small more politically-palatable restrictions (magazine capacity limitations, "assault weapon" bans with continually expanding definitions [see Hawaii law re "assault pistol"...they have been taken away.], banning "Saturday night specials", requiring more and more expensive and time-consuming paperwork to own firearms and/or be granted the "privilege" by the government to carry one outside one's home or business, etc.). That these people advocating prohibition haven't changed their ultimate goal is clear if you read the history of "Handgun Control Inc." and "The National Coalition to Ban Handguns" changing their respective names to "The Brady Campaign" and "The Coalition to Stop Gun violence". A fairly brief history is here:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/02/how-the-gun-control-movement-got-smart/272934/These people want to end civilian ownership of firearms. The fact that they don't (usually) admit to it in public, and are going about it via incrementalism doesn't change that fact. It just means that those defending Second Amendment guaranteed rights will apparently never get to stop being politically active (which really isn't any fun at all).
Check out this "confidential memo" from Handgun Control Inc. from December of 1993. Really, read it. It's what they still want.
Several excerpts (you couldn't make this sh*t up...):
"WHAT WAS ONLY A DREAM TEN YEARS AGO CAN BE REALITY AS EARLY AS THIS YEAR!!!
The memo describes subjects discussed during a "brain storming" session conducted after the formal meeting. The focus of this session was to guide gun control initiatives over the next five years. The document states that
these subjects may not be politically feasible ideas for 1994, but the members are confident that with continued pressure they can achieve most if not all of these goals within the next five years. [The ten year "assault weapons" ban was passed in 1994.] These goals are summarized below:"
A)Ban of all clips holding over 6 bullets.
B)Ban on all semiautos which can fire more than 6 bullets without reloading.
F)Arsenal licensing for possession of multiple guns and large amounts of ammunition.
4) Reduction of the number of guns to require an arsenal license. The suggestion is that the number be reduced to possession of
greater than 5 guns and 250 rounds of ammunition. 5) Arsenal license fees. It is reasonable to require an annual fee of at least $300.00, with a cap of $1,000.00.
6) Limits on arsenal licensing. No license permitted in counties with populations in excess of 200,000.
L)The eventual ban of all semi-automatics regardless of when made or what caliber.
1) National licensing of all handgun purchases.
2) License for rifle and shotguns. Strict licensing should be mandatory for all firearms, whether handguns or not.
16) Eventual ban on handgun possession. We think that within 5 years we can enact a total ban on possession at the federal level. [They were wrong, but they're still working on it.]
22) Banning or strict licensing of all re-loading components.
25) Restricting gun ranges to counties with populations less than 200,000.
26) Special licensing of ranges. The range must have the written permission of all property owners within 7 miles. [That's 154 square MILES. I'm sure they'd fund the purchase of a property within the 7 mile radius in order to provide the one denial necessary to dney the license.]
27) Special range tax to visitors. $85.00/day/person proposed. [And that was in 1993 dollars...]
28) Waiting period for rentals on pistol ranges. [Come back in two weeks to shoot?]
29) Banning gun shows.
31) Making unlawful the assembly of more than 4 armed individuals who are not peace officers or military.
I. PROPOSED LICENSE FEES - 1994-1995 GUN CONTROL PROPOSALS:
The document includes an attachment which gives an overview of the proposed license fees for 1994/1995 Gun Control Proposals. This includes an escalation of fees, which start at $50.00 in the first year, and conclude with fees of
$625.00 in the eighth year. The enclosure also covers a $1,000.00 fine and 6 months jail for failure to acquire a license, followed by recommendations of $5,000.00 and 12 months jail for failure to maintain a license, and $15,000.00 and 18 months jail for failure to turn over guns for destruction after lapse of license. Failure to re-new a license or notify issuing authority of change of status would be considered a felony. All firearms owned would then be considered contraband and could be confiscated. There is also a schedule for the licensing of rifles and shotguns, and the proposal for arsenal licensing. This includes a $300.00 to $1,000.00 annual fee, and $200.00/gun if over the prescribed limit. There is also a provision for assessing $100.00/50 rounds over the limit for ammunition. Included is an outline covering the suggested fee schedule for a Safe License of $228.00 to $392.00 per year, and Ammunition Registration and License of $55.00 to $117.00 per year to purchase ammunition. Other fees discussed include: Federal Re-Loading License of $130.00 to $175.00 per year. Ammunition Safe License Fee of $55.00 to $75.00 per year.
Range License fee of $12,000.00 to $15,000.00 per year. Range Tax fee of $85.00 to $100.00 per person per visit. Inspection License fee of $588.00 to $688.00 per year.