It has been said many times that a fix won't be quick, and the trouble with Americans is that seem to have no patience. But if you don't make a start then the cycle will continue.
While its true that we do not have any patience, the larger problem is one of ideology. There are many gun owners that are convinced that sometime soon the government is going to turn on them and try to kill them off. We actually have state militias that are extremist groups that stockpile weapons and ammo waiting for just that day. They run websites that espouse their philosophy and try to recruit new members.
I can't tell you how many people here are incredibly pro-gun. There was a national survey done within the last couple of years. It showed only 44% of the respondents were in favor of tougher gun laws.
My state is in the process of passing a law that allows individuals with permits that undertake a training class to carry their concealed guns into churches, sport stadiums, and schools (but not colleges apparently).
While you're right that if we started the ball rolling, in time we could change our culture of gun obsession, I don't see that happening anytime soon. Our best bet would be a conservative judge or two on the supreme court retires, is replaced by a more progressive judge, and then a state tries to ban certain types of guns. The state will be sued by the NRA, the case will get appealed up to the SCOTUS, and the SCOTUS either rejects the case or affirms the right of the state to ban assault rifles/etc.