Very interesting. Switzerland also has a lot of people with guns, but they all get mandatory training too.
I'm not pro or against by the way, I don't have enough knowledge of the matter to support any position or form an actual opinion yet.
The idea that other object can be used as weapons too is flawed as an argument. A gun is specifically designed to effectively kill another human from a distance. A tool like a shed or a car has a different and practical purpose and is therefore less likely to be banned. Restricted though. Hence the driver's licences, and police and laws that control safety and such.
Sure there are (illegal) guns here in the Netherlands too. The chances of actually being shot are absurdly small though, so I don't ever feel the need to carry a gun myself to "protect myself". Just like I don't think it's needed to wear a helmet when walking down the street, in case anyone dropped a potted plant from a window.
I have never been, and I have not ever known anyone who has been in a situation that would have ended better if there were legal guns involved. Furthmore, IF you are robbed/attacked or whatever, will having a gun actually matter? Will you, being a normal human being with normal hormonal levels (read, producing a shitload of epinephrine, severely impairing judgment, in a situation like that) be able to use a gun in a way that will help keep you and others around you safe?
Some people claim the principal right to defend yourself against the government, which I think it's oddly irrational:
1) you really think there is a good chance your government will use its army (which consists of normal people like you and me) to attack civilians?
2) Say the government used things like drones/robots/ evil soldiers bent on attack civilians, does having a rifle really keep you safe?
3) is that irrational fear worth keeping a device around the house that has no other purpose than to kill things and if misused or by accident is also likely to indeed severely wound or kill a person?
Maybe I lack some perspective because I didn't grow up around guns. But as far as I can see the only reasons to keep guns around are irrational fears of being attacked by someone in a way where having a gun would actually matter. else/government and "it's awesome" (which, don't get my wrong, I get completely)
Once again, just curious and being unknowing of the culture and views around owning and using weaponry like that.