Well, the Nano is getting ready to come to North America. That is the tiny little car made in India that was touted as the world’s cheapest car on the market, about $2600. To meet the regulations here, the estimates are $8,000!
Think about that - $5,400 in safety improvements, and it’s still a small car in a sea of SUV’s. A sense of paranoia will be considerably more effective.
Apply that same regulatory price jacking to firearms - any firearms at all. Not to pick on just one, but take the AK as an example. What would it cost to add a bolt hold open and change the safety to remain on while loading?
A simple requirement like that would push the price to upper AR levels and destroy a major selling factor. Much less having a hugh impact on the looks of the firearm itself - like not having a pistol grip under CA AWB regs.
Keep it in mind when you ask questions of politicians running for office.