Guns appeal to a very basic, dumb, violent side of ourselves. A college student being proficient and diligent enough to do experiment with synthetic biology doesn't sound like someone violent. Reckless, yes, but not very violent.

Sounds like a very privledged view to either so trust your government to manage our society or alternately choose death if your current position in society stops being feasible.

All of human history shows a need for an armed populous to fight against tyranny and my government has shown no signs of breaking that cycle.