I wouldn’t put it past them, perhaps. Probably even. In Europe? Never heard of children shooting .22 rifles. What does a .22 rifle do? Is it good for shooting birds? Cats? Dogs? Teachers? Bisons? Yourself in the foot? No idea, how should I know?
I wonder if the fact that for you it is completely normal to give .22 rifles to children (you would not include them in a ban, if I understand you right. Because it’s OK when children shoot rifles. Other countries have banned chocolate cigarettes because it makes real cigarettes look harmless and it was seen as a path to tabaquism later in life. But a .22 rifle is just a harmless toy, even for you - or perhaps you were showing sarcasm?) has anything to do with
Come to think of it: are you sure that this is what we are talking about? Because I have the impression that subject is already covered in other threads and that here we were talking about politicians that woud do anything to protect the gun industry that pays them handsomely. We were talking about institutionalized corruption, about loaded dice, undue influence and how a minority imposes its will and its interests on the majority.