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Gun ownership rates are fairly high in many European nations, esp in northern Europe. I know there are over 2 million privately owned guns in Sweden for 9 million people, and the rate is even higher in Finland.

The level of gun control varies also, but most countries require registration. The registration methods differs though; Swedish registers are by law required to be kept at the local police station and not at a central location. Because of this the 2 million figure is only an estimate.

The only issue is registration.Australia has higher per capita gun ownership(with 30% registered,70% unregistered) than all west/northern European nations besides Switzerland but became the NRA whipping boy because of registration requirements by the government.The fact that the 70% of Australians who choose not to register are liable to jail makes the difference.

Having lived in Germany for 12 years...I will say this. Germans are awful strict on guns...and it makes sense. If you want to own a weapon, you have to attend a training course. And these aren't a fly-by-night operation...you actually have to attend and test for credit. You must have a gun cabinet which only you have the key for. Neither your wife or kids can have access unless they take the course. If the cops suspect that Jr has had access...they will come and take your guns...real simple. If you show any mental problems...and the cops will check their database on gun registration...then they can come and take your weapons then too. Gun shows? They don't have them. If you want a weapon, you go to a dealer and buy it. Most European gun-owners are serious folks who don't buy weapons on a whim, and then sell them six months later.

Alot of this is time-consuming and requires you to actually work for the right to have a weapon...but perhaps this would weed out alot of problems in the US.