I'm pretty sure it was. It might have depended on an individuals training though. A Pathfinder taught me. I couldn't even handle a toy gun "unsafely" without hearing about.

"The Gen. Greats" I knew didn't play games with weapons. Most Gen X that know handle them properly. I think that Gen-Next/ Millennials were the first generation to have "fear of weapons" crap instilled in them directly via toy marketing and news.

I think this has really just led to kids becoming adults having not just zero weapons training; but no real understanding of how powerful one is. "I must not think bad thoughts"(X)