I had a discussion with a fellow gun enthusiast from the UK some time ago about how easily Brits surrendered their gun rights.
He pointed out that British are “subjects” not “citizens” a well entrenched and persistent cultural difference that plays a profound and different (from the US) role in how they see their place in society relative to their government.
The Aussies, and Canadians too, spring from this tradition. Obama’s either ignorantly making an apples/oranges comparison, or deliberately lamenting his inability to rule as a king. I’m thinking it’s the latter ...