I was about 15-16 when I got my first firearm - the newly introduced Ruger 10/22. I had shot my dad's old Police Positive at the local range for a couple years before that and had shot Remington bolt .22's at boy scout camp but that Ruger was my own. It was around 1965-6 in California and there was no issue with a kid having a gun in those days. Shot it at the range and up in Ojai on a ranch that belonged to friends of my folks.
Sadly, sold to a fellow deputy sheriff around 1974 when I was hurting for a few extra dollars.
Next purchase in 1967 was a WWII British SMLE. Also gone but I still have a Jungle Carbine.
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