As somebody who is married to a Briton, (Scot, actually, of German heritage) has Scottish/English/German relatives and in-laws, and has spent MUCH time in Europe, I can tell you all, telling Europeans that civilian gun ownership for any reason other than hunting (maybe) is beneficial is an utter waste of time, with some exceptions, usually people who have spent time in the US or ex-mil, and sometimes, not even then.
They are mostly utterly ignorant, fearful and loathing of firearms, and associate them with criminals, anti-social elements (usually neo-Nazis and drug dealers) and mass murderers. To them we US gun people are ALL utter lunatics, and they either don't understand or don't want to know about the concept of American self-reliance and self-defence, and are brought up to believe that a gun will make you more likely to kill yourself or your next door neighbor with it instead of dissuading a burglar or mugger. (If that is true, then my guns must be defective....)
As for the skyrocketing crime rate over there- and yes, it is REAL- their attitude is, well, if we had legal guns, the murder rate would be worse- go figure. I can never get a cogent explanation out of my in-laws on that one. Self-defence is pretty much illegal in the UK, and has been since the 1950s. If you are attacked, other than attempting to flee, legally one cannot use deadly force to save one's life- that is the realm of the state, not of the individual. To do so would be considered an insult to HM Govt- in effect, saying that the police are incompetent, and incapable of protecting you....
The only exception I've been able to get out of them is for a farmer in the country who might need a shotgun for self-defence against wild animals or burglars. Again, go figure. Just like real estate- location, location, location.
Gun enthusiasts, such as ourselves, are seen societally in the UK as being beyond the pale. (I can only guess as to what Paolo in IT, Kuiper in NL and Tuukka in SU experience.) But I say, if they are so bad, and you are afraid of them, why are you not too afraid to come visit us in the States, where our country is full of such people? And- I'm ONE OF THEM... I can't get a good answer out of my in-laws on that one either.
Europeans and Americans. Two VERY different ways of looking at life.
At least my sister-in-law, God bless her, wants to come over here next visit and shoot my Armalite. Again, go figure.....[%|]