We were responsible for where the muzzle was pointed at all times no matter what. BB or pellet. Not allowed to be in any BB gun wars etc. That would have brought an a$$ beating.
I thought other kids got the same firearms training we did. Turns out no kids I ever knew got firearms training.
Ok. Let's not define a generation gap here. Yet we must define the generation gap here.
We got firearms training when we got our first BB/pellet guns.
Three basic rules:
Consider all guns are loaded!
Never point a gun at someone!
Never point a guy at any thing (we) didn't want to kill!
Our stepdad reinforced the 10 Commandments of fire arms safety when he took us out and taught us how to shoot his .22 Hi Standard Double Mine and again with his single shot shotgun.
Although, I guess, I (we) should have, started this by giving the year(s) and how things have changed.
Our BB/pellet guns weren't very powerful; the next stage higher compared to cork pop guns; unless they were the pump up or CO2 kind. As the pump up or CO2 at maybe out to 15 yards could possibly kill a rabbit with a pellet to the head.
Our spring-plunger BB/pellet guns might dent a piece of onion skin typing paper at 5 feet. I'm talking back in the early, early 1960's (ie like 1962-63 or '64 maybe).
I degrees, anyway once we were introduced to "real" firearms. We never looked back to playing with BB or pellet guns.
At about 7-8 or 8-9 respectively; Every Thing firearm related was serious. Because now (back then) we used "real" firearms!: for me it was a 22 cal rifle (and later pistol) and a .410 shotgun; my brother .22 cal rifle and a 16 gauge double barrel (twin hammer and trigger) shotgun.
OK, Fast Forward. By the late '60's through the '70's, from the mid '70's through today BB and pellet guns have evolved a 1000%+ times fold.
Sabastion: All I can say is that unless you grew up in the '50, '60's, real early '70's. You and your generation will never know the joys we had. And for that I can honestly say is a very, very bad thing. And actually a major contributor to today's problems with the younger citified, etc. kids today.