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.
I shot handguns as a young kid (under 10 years old) in my Grandfather's
range he had in his basement. He was a gun nut of sorts and had some
beautiful and somewhat rare firearms. But it was always under constant,
close supervision by him and my dad (who was not so much of a gun nut).
I was supposed to inherit a Swedish, bolt action Mauser carbine and an
authentic WWI German Luger when I was older but my father made sure that
never happened.
I just didn't grow up with my parents saying, "Why don't you go out and
play with your .22 rifle" just to get me out of their hair. It was bad
enough when (in the middle of the summer) they finally caught me going
outside with a winter coat, knit hat and carrying swimming googles.
They weren't aware of the BB gun fights a bunch of us had.
Yeah but...if The John didn't go out to rassle up some vittles for supper, the family would go to bed hungry.