Well, as you know, forbidden fruit is most desirable
the only time I had a chance to touch a real gun was when we visited our relatives in the remote village. My second uncle showed me his double-barreled shotgun and let me hold it for a couple of minutes. It was so heavy I couldn't hold it so I put it in my laps. I was 12 or so at that time. that's all experience I had by then.
How my interest started… As I said, I cannot remember that's exactly. I believe, a lot of that came from my father: he served in Soviet Army as an aircraft weapons mechanic. There wasn't gunsmithing involved, but weapons loading/unloading and maintenance on warplanes. He told me a lot of stories. Also, from him I first time I heard about SKS carbine – before that I was sure that only AKs were issued to soldiers. Also, lots and lots of movies about WWII also affected my imagination.
Nowadays it's a little bit "simpler" over there to get a hunting license and buy a shotgun. a person just has to bring to police: certificate from a psychiatrist that he is not a cuckoo; certificate from an ophthalmologist that he has good enough eye vision; certificate from a doctor that he is not an alcoholic or drug addict; regular physical exam from primary care physician; also having a safe or metal locking box is mandatory. if you are a good boy, after five years you can get permission to buy a hunting carbine with a rifled barrel. to buy or sell a gun, you have to get permission from police and register the sale or purchase with them. When some governmental event is going to occur, all gun owners are obligated to go to a local police and leave their guns over there to be stored until further notice; after that you can go and pick it up (or not, haha).
hi, how did you get interested in guns if you can't have them in ussr? did anyone u know have guns?