As an American visiting Europe, can I bring my gun along?

Are you serious? In this day and age where even a mobile power pack must be scrutinised; why did you ever think you’d be allowed to take a weapon on a plane? There are scanners; there’s X-Ray machines and haven’t you heard of plane hijacking? Even if you have the right paperwork; what’s to stop some other trigger-happy person to discover your weapon and attempt to use it? And if you’re lucky enough to own a plane or boat; you’d be very unwelcome should you happen to be spotted with it. The rest of us must forego some rights when travelling; so why should you be the exception? Why do you feel that you need one in a society where most people can cope without one? If you can’t sacrifice one little liberty to experience other cultures and trust in other people then my advice to you is to stay in that little cocoon of yours.