Yes, this cause is wholly irrational and I find it outrageous that I'm supposed to believe these groups want to ban "assault rifles" but not handguns when handguns are used in nearly all murders with firearm. 

The reality is that yes, they do. Not only is it in terms of it being obvious - that they're doing a piecemeal campaign that starts with semiauto rifles and will culminate and all handguns - but indeed this is actually traceable. One Barack Obama was on the board of the Joyce Foundation for years. The Joyce Foundation funds a number of anti-gun groups, including one called the Violence Prevention Center. The VPC has published papers OPENLY calling for all guns to be banned across the board - including common handguns. But Obama says, "We don't want your guns." 

Lies.

http://www.vpc.org/studies/unsafe.htm