There really are many people who are safe and responsible handgun owners. America is a country of around 300,000,000 people and the ones you talk to on those forums are probably very intelligent and law-abiding citizens. But those aren't the people shooting up schools, robbing liquor stores/banks/convenience stores. Look, I used to shoot handguns in the fields behind my house with my friends and family, along with other rifles and shotguns. It's a lot of fun and and an enjoyable pastime. But regardless of my feelings on shooting, I recognize that the US has a big problem with crime and the number of gun-toting criminals far outweighs the number of responsible gun-owners. At the base of the problem is society, but that's a completely different argument.
Contrary to popular belief, handguns are legal in some European countries, like this one. I mean, come on...Italy is known for three things: pizza, pasta, and mafia. They practically invented modern organized crime. However, the restrictions on handgun ownership are very, VERY strict and using them is a big ordeal. Again, crime is a societal problem, and taking away guns isn't going to solve it but it will definitely put one hell of a dent in it. The US's attitude towards guns is very lax, and that's the real problem. If you put the same handgun restrictions we have here on Americans, you'll see a BIG change in attitude. Many of these so-called "responsible" gun enthusiasts will be shown for who they really are: violent people hiding behind the Second Amendment. People like you would continue to enjoy the hobby because you're a true enthusiast. Other people would show their true colors.