Interesting analysis, but I agree with a commenter that the proper analogy for an innate superpower (strength, power blasts, etc.) is not to firearms but rather to martial arts skills, as what we’re talking about is the government attempting to regulate the superhero or superheroine’s bodily functions.
And Hollywood aside, I don’t think any government’s ever successfully licensed anybody’s hands as deadly weapons, etc.
Ummm, yes they did. The 1950’s DeGaulle government in France (4th Republic, I think), required all persons with formal instruction in the French martial art, Savat, to be registered on a government list.
Wasn’t there something about this in one of the Pink Panther movies, for Clouseau’s part,”I must advise you sir, that these hands are registered as deadly weapons with the Government”
Heh… I know Savate can be deadly with an experience practitioner but… “French martial art” caused a powerful state of cognitive dissonance. Just sayin’.