But I do think particularly first-time potential gun owners should have to provide personal references that get verified, and those references also don't have criminal records.

If you can't find at least 4 people who would sign on that they think it's okay for you to have a gun, why the heck should you get one?

should be extremely detailed and involved. The check should reveal every time someone skipped school, or littered or got a speeding ticket, etc. The person should be forced to go through an intense psychological examination. It should take at least a month to complete. The person applying to purchase a gun should feel extremely violated.

If you want to own a piece of machinery whose only purpose is to kill, you need to go through some things first.

PS: you should also need to carry very expensive insurance on that gun, and your ability to own that gun should be reevaluated every 6 months.

Also, anyone found trying to circumvent these background checks will be sentenced to 5 years in prison.

...a very basic background check.