This thread reminds me of many hours spent in my childhood with air guns and .22 bolt action rifles.

A local shooting club had an outdoor range 50 yards down the road from where I grew up and for lunch money you could go get a box of .22 and a rifle and have fun.

Amazing thinking back at this now because I'm pretty sure the same people would get shut down today for renting even a single shot .22 to a 12 year old without any parents around <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

My first gun was a break barrel single shot air pistol. I was 10 and my dad got it for me for Christmas. My mom was livid, but I loved that thing despite the fact that I could barely lift it to keep it on target or load it myself <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Since then I had .177 and .22 air rifles (because you were allowed to own those without a hunting license).

Sad to think how the world has changed, especially the part I grew up in where these "toys" are now almost outlawed because politicians think they have to protect people from themselves. Please don't let it happen to America as well <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />