I believe that the Swiss example is a good one to follow. Gun ownership is actually required for some. This is how it works.
Every man of military age goes to boot camp and after training goes back home with his full auto rifle. Then he returns every so often for a week or so to practice army stuff.
The logic behind this is that in an emergency an armory would be the first place that's taken thus they should have their rifle in hand, at his home. When he's no longer in service he gets to keep his rifle under condition that it would be permanently altered to be a semi-automatic instead of the army's full auto. Shooting for target practice is encouraged by the Swiss government so that the citizen soldier can maintain his skill.
All other type of weaponry as well as non army gun owners are required to have an intensive background check before buying a weapon.
[Did some edits]