Now you have changed the subject then haven't you?
You went from "no minor should ever have anything but a BB gun" to
assuming we want our kid to have an AR. That being said, I am sure out
west where it is relatively safe to shoot one, there are teenagers
with ARs. They would usually start with a .22rf and demonstrate that
they are safe and knowledgable first but there are plenty of people
out in flyover country who understand a gun is a tool.
How have I changed the subject? My point was that you really can't
compare what was common 50 years ago to today. AR-15s had not been
invented that I know of and I don't think a teenager could run down
to the local gun store back then and buy a rifle designed for the
military back then.
Sure they could. M1, M1 carbine. Bunch of enfields. My buddy bought a
303 English army rifle in high school. Was about $15. Only problem was
finding ammo. Was just a different configuration of semi auto rifle.
Most places you can not buy a Military grade rifle as hey are select fire.
All the others are cosmetic. I shot my dad’s Browning Semi Auto 12guage
duck hunting at 14 years old.