Americans and Europeans come from different backgrounds. Personal guns helped Americans conquer its territories, provided protection to the home and family from other dangerous humans and hungry animals and put meat on the table to feed their families. By the time guns came around, Europe was long conquered and developed, basically an agrarian society. If guns were used in combat, it came from European governments making war on other European governments. It was more personal with Americans.
So growing up with guns, many Americans especially in rural areas think nothing of them. They would no more think of getting rid of them as most Americans would think of giving up their dangerous autos. You have a bigger chance of getting killed or maimed by autos than guns. Yet, we love our cars. I know I do. Also, the founders who wrote the Constitution experienced first hand in the American revolution how a citizen army could throw off the yoke of British tyranny, who at that time had the most powerful army in the world. They feared centralized government and understood an armed citizenry was the last hope against a centralized government intent on ruling over everything. Hence the 2nd Amendment.
Does anyone believe Catalan will gain independence without an armed people. It's not only that guns in the hand of regular people would be needed to overthrow a tyrannical regime. Just the fact the populace is armed prevent regimes from resorting to dictatorial rule. What do you think the Kurds would say if the government in Iraq mandated that the Kurds have to turn in their weapons and comply with all rule from Baghdad? Whether you agree with Sunni Iraqi terror against Shias or not, do you think they would be treated better if the Shia Iraqis removed their personal weapons? Do you think they would have more or less independence? Does anyone think that the unarmed Chinese or Cubans will get a multi-party political system anytime soon?
Interestingly, the gun "mystique" and culture is supported by a liberal Hollywood. While producers make movies supporting the glory of the gun culture to get rich, its members hypocritically argue that guns should be outlawed. They're a joke.
So Americans will tweak the laws here and there. But not much is going to change because enough Americans want to keep their guns.
In the end in America, European history, culture, experience and beliefs don't matter. America has a constitution that protect an armed citizenry. Right now, there is not a desire to do away with that
