No to freely available, yes to licenced.
When you guys say "licensed", do you mean similiar to what we have in WA state?:
~Serial number recorded by Law enforcement upon purchase
~No felony convictions or 4th deg. assault (Misdemeanor)
~Must have a Concealed Weapons permit if you are going to wear it on your body.
We don't actually have a license, per se, but the firearm has a serial number telling law enforcement agencies who the firearm belongs too.
The British system is
Must have a firearms certificate.
Firearms certificate must be granted if you have
No criminal record (doesn't include very old or minor offences eg speeding)
Secure storage for guns
Valid reason for owning gun eg member of gun club, hunting, vermin control, collector etc
No major mental instability
All guns you buy are put on your firearms certificate. They have to remain in your possesion, or be transferred to another person's firearms certificate. Guns cannot just disappear.
I think the last part is the most important. What's to stop you filing the serial off your gun and selling it to someone you know has felony convictions? I know it's probably illegal, but what procedures are in place to actually stop it?
There's not much point in having background checks etc in place in the new market if the secondhand market isn't properly regulated.