Just curious how and when and where do people learn about guns?
Growing up in former Yugoslavia, on troubled Balkans, where we had many wars with pretty much any neighbors, guns are present and very much part of our life. Often, fathers and grandfathers would gift a gun to a son (never a daughter) on his 18th birthday as a right of passage as he is now old enough to defend his family.
In 8th year of elementary school (we are 14 years old) we go to a shooting range with the school and shoot, I don't know the correct word, air powered guns. They shoot small lead bullets the shape of a Champagne cork, range of maybe 15-25 meters. Before we go it is drilled into us that you never ever point a gun to another human being. NEVER!!!! This is then repeated at the range again and again.
In the 2nd year of high school (we are 16 yrs old) we learned to handle bolt action rifle M-48, semi auto SKS, AK-47 and the Yugoslav version of RPG. It was repeated over and over again that guns are for killing and you never point it at another human being. At the end of the year we go to the local army shooting range and fire the bolt action M-49, the score is part of your grade. Before the soldiers hand you the rifle it is repeated that you never point a gun at another human being, even if it is empty and dissembled.
Military service was mandatory for guys and when one guy pointed his rifle at the picture with people on it he was teared apart by the officers. You just don't do that. EVER.
If you want to buy your own gun you have to take a gun safety course and undergo a psychological evaluation. It had to be redone every so often, don't remember.
Growing up in former Yugoslavia, on troubled Balkans, where we had many wars with pretty much any neighbors, guns are present and very much part of our life. Often, fathers and grandfathers would gift a gun to a son (never a daughter) on his 18th birthday as a right of passage as he is now old enough to defend his family.
In 8th year of elementary school (we are 14 years old) we go to a shooting range with the school and shoot, I don't know the correct word, air powered guns. They shoot small lead bullets the shape of a Champagne cork, range of maybe 15-25 meters. Before we go it is drilled into us that you never ever point a gun to another human being. NEVER!!!! This is then repeated at the range again and again.
In the 2nd year of high school (we are 16 yrs old) we learned to handle bolt action rifle M-48, semi auto SKS, AK-47 and the Yugoslav version of RPG. It was repeated over and over again that guns are for killing and you never point it at another human being. At the end of the year we go to the local army shooting range and fire the bolt action M-49, the score is part of your grade. Before the soldiers hand you the rifle it is repeated that you never point a gun at another human being, even if it is empty and dissembled.
Military service was mandatory for guys and when one guy pointed his rifle at the picture with people on it he was teared apart by the officers. You just don't do that. EVER.
If you want to buy your own gun you have to take a gun safety course and undergo a psychological evaluation. It had to be redone every so often, don't remember.