The control and possession of weapons is so different from State to State and world cultures. I personally come from a country where, at least, if you're not in the armed forces or a national police officer , the ownership of a firearm is unwelcome , and the owner (who need to obtain a license for ownership and public weapon holding) considered , under most cases, as a stupid-degenerated 'cowboy'... a country where it is still, from a law point of view, perfectly legal to walk in the street with a sword, or any other blades, provided it remains in its scabbard ( I pity the poor guys who want to walk around with a Claymore... ) . And we see that our calibrated mindless killers open fire on citizens with weapons illegally obtained and, of course , without any license.  
Honestly I wait for my next location, in Canada, to spend an equivalent license , and finally access a dream: detain, practice and enjoy a Taurus Raging Bull.