Challenging stuff. Our son has just started uni, and as the song goes "Is An Adult Now!", and we've always thought it important to support his choices, some of which we don't agree with and need some "guidance".

As for the guns, it may not come to fruition and might simply be a way of challenging your values as a means to rebel and separate into an autonomous adult.

This is of course completely speculative on my part, and I certain wonder myself about how to handle similar situations. I'm not sensing any control freakery, just a desire to find balance.