It's certainly much more difficult for the average French citizen to acquire any firearm much less an automatic weapon in France. The fact is whether it's an automatic weapon, explosives, vehicles, etc. it's impossible to prevent many of them. Large crowds are good targets for potential slaughter. This guy might turn out to be someone with an ideology or a record, but for now it looks like he's just someone who snapped.
'Not sure where you are getting your information. Europe is a place where money talks. Risk = cost. Anyone with the willingness to break the law and spend enough money can get all the weapons they need. It doesn't much matter what country you are in - according to the people I listen to.
That goes for automatic weapons and any other including explosives.
One major problem is just that there are too many people with a willingness to strike "soft targets". That is why they are referred to as "soft". We must face the reality that murder is among the easiest crimes to commit. It's as easy to murder someone as it is to take a crap. That's why it appeals to morons. Even a low-grade sub-moron can murder people who are just minding their own business.
An international study on murderers showed conclusively that any would-be murderer is unlikely to cease their efforts simply because of not being able to procure their weapon-of-choice. Research showed clearly that in virtually every case where a murderer or attempted murderer was frustrated in obtaining their primary weapon, they always settled for whatever could "do the job" but did not abandon their plans.
See, it has something to do with the fixation that they have on their central idea of reference - namely that they MUST murder someone in order to feel good again. Once that idea has taken over their thinking processes,such types tend to become very "goal-oriented" which translates into resolute resourcefulness and creativity in achieving the outcome they seek.
So yeah, if they can't get a firearm easily, they will try HARDER until they do, and/or switch to multiple weapons. Imagine if he had prevented exit from the concert then set a huge fire. That might have killed many more than 58. The Station Fire in Rhode Island was just a small venue but more than 100 perished in the flames. All things considered, I think I'd rather take a bullet than burn to death.