Stories of seven-year-olds suspended for biting a pastry into the shape of a gun, first graders sent home for talking about toy guns, or kindergarteners suspended for bringing a toy gun to school or just discussing shooting a bubble squirt gun at another child are depressingly commonplace.

FORBES: A Policy Area In Which Europe Has The U.S. Beat, And It's Not Even Close

Background checks would be more thorough, gun owners would have to reapply for licences every five years, and fully automatic assault rifles, armour-piercing bullets, lifelike toy guns, and gun-lending would be banned.

ECONOMIST: South Africa