Like a few guys have mentioned, we used to run around the streets as young fellas with air rifles and 22's and no one batted an eyelid and no one got hurt, nor did we even think about hurting anyone or doing stupid s**t we had common sense and respect back then, same go's for carrying pocket knives etc, we all had them, the thought never crossed our minds to do harm to another human being, they were tools, not weapons,
When you needed ammo etc you could just go down to the local newsagents and buy air rifle pellets and I think they stocked 22 ammo also (not certain of that)
I got my gun licence when I was 17, this was 1993, I didn't own a car and lived on the same main drag my LGS but around 5 or so K's away, when I'd buy a new firearm I used to ride my pushy to the shop purchase the firearm and ride home down a busy main road with it (bagged) across my handlebars, cops would drive past and if anything they'd be more concerned about me not wearing a helmet than the fact I was carrying a pump/semi auto 12 guage (I had a Franchi spas12) on my handle bars and probably a few boxes of shells in my back pack.
We used to be able to go down to the local bush, pretty much anywhere and fire off a few shots and do a bit of target practice, I remember one day, a trail bike cop came through while we were doing so and he just said 'g'day guys, keeping out of trouble?'...we replied politely and he was off on his merry way, no licence or ID checks etc.
When I turned 18 I again lived on the same street except it was a side st ( shop was on a corner) and I was only 500 metres away, I also worked directly across the street so would drop in almost daily so the owner got to know me quite well, every Friday afternoon at closing time the owner would shut the doors and he'd put on a few beers (inside the store) for his staff and well known customers, they were good times...
Do any of the above now days and you'd be surrounded by swat within minutes and spending a little time in a small barred room sleeping next to Leeroy who thinks you got a pretty mouth......