You might not be able to register it without insurance but you can certainly buy it. Plus a significant number of drivers on the road don't have insurance because they only pay for it long enough to register the car and then never again. There's a reason those of us with insurance usually have the option for coverage if the other driver doesn't.
It wouldn't meet the safety standards. A substantial portion of the cost in a modern vehicle is the safety systems and then the emissions systems.
Looks like someone has paid attention to Andrew Branca @ The Law of Self Defense.
Semi automatic weapons existed at the time.
Furthermore, following that logic leads to TV, Radio and the Internet not being protected mediums for the first amendment. I don't think anyone wants to think about the power that decision would give the government.
I'm not sure you really want carry permits to be more like driving a car. Go to the local branch and take a written 15 minute test to get an initial permit and then take a brief range trip for basic proficiency 6 months later and at 16 you can get your license. As long as you don't get caught doing major bad things you can just pay a fee every 4 years and keep your license. If you commit small infractions you pay a fine and move on. Just don't get caught more than once a year. What's a little negligent discharge every now and then really hurt anyway. Plus if you do commit a large violation we'll just suspend it for a couple years and after 30 days you can apply for a hardship permit. Plus your license is valid in all 50 states and most foreign countries.