It's not just Scotland. It's like that all over. It's you that's the exception.
I know, America is lucky to have lax gunlaws
Why would anyone want them to be legal?
Because guns being legal actually curbs crime, or at least in the States. Take California for example, handguns are legal yet won't be for much longer, it is a liberal state and has some of the tightest gun restrictions in the country. Our big cities have some of the highest violent crime rates as well as home invasions and assaults. Compare that to Texas or Nevada, states with legal assault weapons, easily obtainable permits for concealed weapons, and a populace armed to the teeth with said firearms. Guns are so acceptable in these states that for 200$ anybody with a clean criminal background who takes a week long class can obtain a federal firearms license which allows them to buy virtually any gun they want including automatics.
Sounds crazy right? Actually these states have far less violent crimes (including those with guns involved), far less home invasions, less auto theft, and less personal assaults. Criminals in these states must think twice before acting because they know that anybody could be armed.
Gun laws may be put in place with good intentions but enforcing stricter measures only takes weapons out of the hands of law-abiding citizens making them less able to defend themselves, criminals are still easily able to obtain illegal firearms. Gun control in theory makes sense, but when the criminals can still get guns whats the point of preventing our populace from being able to protect themselves.