Society must protect itself from dogs that maim and kill, not every dog that bites. Bites by non-protection/non-fighting dogs are not the problem. It is the breeds that maim and kill that society must protect unprotected and helpless children from.
If there were time to "educate" the people who tend to own powerful, protection breed/fighting dogs, or if these people were capable of being "educated", then education certainly is the best solution to the problem of the escalation in deadly attacks by dogs.
But those who insist that controls are not necessary, that "education" is the solution, irresponsibly put in harm's way the next victim, who will almost certainly be a child. Those who use the "education not legislation" slogan, are avoiding the wrath of uncomprehending dog-lovers who are their source of income. They include the SPCA, dog trainers, "expert" dog-behaviourists, and politicians.
Most breeds bite and run. Some breeds go in for the kill. Those breeds must be strictly controlled or banned.
If society does not take action now, there are bigger, more dangerous breeds coming. There are 200 pound "manstoppers" in our communities now. Fila Mastiffs are being produced in the Lower Mainland by the same owners of the biggest Guard Dog business in BC , and being sold for $2,000.