It was the 70's for me. They still have rifle teams associated with JROTC here in NM, but use precision air rifles (no lead remediation problems, no hearing protection needed, and the range can be a classroom with a cinderblock wall as a backstop in case they miss the pellet trap)
Scholastic shooting programs are the only youth sport that has never had a case of participant or spectator violence documented.
Your point about criminals and gang bangers is completely valid though.
"They still have rifle teams associated with JROTC here in NM, but use precision air rifles (no lead remediation problems, no hearing protection needed, and the range can be a classroom with a cinderblock wall as a backstop in case they miss the pellet trap) "
Good deal! I like air rifles, and have a 10 meter range in my basement. It's great fun when company's over, and everybody gets to shoot. I've introduced the kids in my wife's family to shooting there. Nobody else in the family is into guns at all. Still, everyone has a good time trying to hit those tiny little targets.
They're a great introduction to firearms and firearms safety. All the rules I'd apply to any range apply to that 10 meter range.