Portuguese here:
- There was compulsory male military service, that would be the only place where you could "handle" military grade hardware, aka assault rifles.
- Currently IIRC, guns are accessible if: you're a military or law enforcement agent, a hunter (rifle or shotgun) or go through a process for a fire arm license due to professional or business reasons (e.g. a goldsmith) for self-defense.
As well hand guns are limited to "non-military" calibers... for instance 9mm is for government agents solely.
Of course there's black market and use by shady actors...
As for people's personal relationship with guns, most people doesn't care to have one as there's not much violent crime to justify said behavior.
This, I've just installed it this week and I think it's better than Google (though I'm suspicious of the "free" service.