The problem is that even at the level of EU there are many "national" interests at play on all areas, all the time, which brings back the old question - it is impossible to rule a large mass of land and population with "rosy" ideology, like democracy, because everyone shouts and screams at the same time, failing to see the larger picture.
Putin has it right, Xi Poo Ping has it right and Trump has it right. They want power, by being dictators, and therefore controlling large masses. This is not "chit-chat" talk, it is the history of human civilization(s).
So unless we start (which I'm 0,0000001% certain we can) to trully figure out risks to our life in this planet as a global community of societies, we'll be f***ed. And we're already close to "midnight" AF.
I live in a shitty house from the 50s in Poland, poorly insulated AND I walk around the house on a t-shirt if I want... the problem is the energy I have to spend. Heat-pumps are not a miracle if your house is poorly insulated.
That's it. Everything in the Universe, including you, has a "price" on energy. Now outside of all crony-capitalism craziness, we should all consider having a open, distributed, fair price Internet and it's resources.
There was compulsory male military service, that would be the only place where you could "handle" military grade hardware, aka assault rifles.
Currently IIRC, guns are accessible if: you're a military or law enforcement agent, a hunter (rifle or shotgun) or go through a process for a fire arm license due to professional or business reasons (e.g. a goldsmith) for self-defense.
As well hand guns are limited to "non-military" calibers... for instance 9mm is for government agents solely.
Of course there's black market and use by shady actors...
As for people's personal relationship with guns, most people doesn't care to have one as there's not much violent crime to justify said behavior.
Normal "Ruzzian" propaganda, they were controlling USSR for over 3 decades, the decadence of the railway systems in those countries under their dominance is still excruciating today...