In Ireland, anyone wishing to own a firearm must go to their local Garda station and request a form (FCA1) for a firearms license or alternatively download it and print it off the Garda website. One must specify a legitimate reason for wanting a firearm such as hunting or target shooting and show proof of the ability to do so for example Gun Club membership or shooting range membership and also a shooting safety course is also appreciated by the authorities. Each license is only good for one firearm, but one may apply for multiple different licenses each of which last three years. One must also list the firearm they wish to buy on the form including the serial number, action and chambering. Other things which must be included in the form include a passport photo, 2 character references and your medical doctors contact details. After the license is issued one may pick up their firearm at the gun store. Handguns are allowed but only as rimfires or air pistols, occasionally a higher calibre pistol may be licensed if a valid reason is given for example a person who works with dangerous animals in their career. All automatic rifles are banned, semi-automatic rifles are effectively banned also but some licenses for these types of firearms do exist in the country though they are difficult to acquire. Rim-fire semi automatics are allowed on a non-restricted license only as long as the magazine doesn’t exceed ten rounds, if a larger magazine is requested then a restricted license is required. Air pistols are also legal and so are air rifles, but require firearms certificates when they have power exceeding 1 joule. Shotguns with magazines bigger than 3 rounds also require a restricted license along with rifles over .308 calibre and any firearm resembling a military weapon.[14]
Ireland may have strong restrictions on owning and using guns but has much much less of a police presence than US.
In two weeks in Ireland last year I saw only two police cars on the road - I see more than that on short errands in my safe town. No foot patrols in the bar districts.
In Ireland the belief seems to be that people police themselves according to good sense and custom, firearms the exception, where the state steps in. And maybe recycling too, although I’m not sure how the enforcement works on that - maybe it’s still self-policing. :)