Damn, you can buy such weapons in your country?!
Belgian constitution gives the right for a civilian to own a firearm. There are 4 types
-Sportshooting license model 9. Wich covers bolt action rifles, .22LR Pistols, the ability to shoot a permit user his revolver, single shot shotguns and blackpowder rifles
-Permit model 4, wich covers semi-auto pistols, rifles, shotguns and revolvers
-Collector permit, wich gives the ability to collect fully auto machineguns (heavily restricted tough)
-Hunting license. For one who wishes to go hunting
For one to apply a sportshooting license, one must join a club and apply for a temporary license. during a 12 month period, the shooter must have done 12 shooting sessions in a gun club/range. He can then do an theoretical and practical exam (this can be done if 12 shooting sessions have been done in 6 months). If the shooter passes these tests, is sane in health and not convicted felony, he can then purchase, own and shoot the weapons mentioned above. The sportshooter must do 12 shooting sessions each year to make his/hers license valid again. A sport shooting license can theoretical, give you the ability to purchase as much guns as you want. One license covers more then one guns
A model 4 permit in turn, is diffrent. If one wants to purchase a pistol or other semi-auto, he must apply for a permit PER weapon. In 4 months this permit will be approved or denied (Denieng can only be done if there is a valid reason for it). A model 4 gun owner must do shooting sessions each year, but only 10.
What is not allowed under the above licenses=
-Fully auto weapons
-Special type of weapons
-pepper spray, tear gas, chemical weapons and nuclear bombs
A collector permit holder, can however aquire himself historic firearms for collecting and display functions. But he cannot shoot with them. This however means that he can get himself a fully auto STG44 of WW2, even an MG42 on lafette if he wants to (as me and siben saw yesterday)
By standards, our gun control is rather strict. Each and every firearm must be registered. One who wants to keep his license, must do rather alot of effort by going to gunclubs. Paperwork is huge. But on the other hand, like switzerland, there is a reason why we have rather low gun crimes. Compared to other EU countries who ban guns almost entirly, and the US ofcourse.
http://www.gunpolicy.org/The netherlands for example, has a very strict gun law. It prohibts the manufacture of guns. Firearm deaths per population were low however. Belgium used to be higher but is now in the same area as the NL. According to interpol however (This was on the news a while ago), NL has 4 times more illegal gun smuggeling then Belgium (Gunpolicy seems to confirm this with NL ranking "Moderate" and BE "Small)
Still, long story short, we EU countries seem to be safe with guns, strict or non strict gun laws. Wich is something to be proud off.