This is one of the anti-gun myths. You don't need a permit to own a gun, just be over 18. Valid ID is all you need in VA from what I know. Just be glad your not in Kalifornia, where you almost need a body cavity search to walk in a gun store.
Not only that, if someone buys you a gun, you can legally own a long gun at 16 and a handgun at 18. Now thats in MO and I know it's a states rights thing so ymmv. you can legally shoot a firearm at any age though with adult supervision under 16 I believe?
Anyway I rolled back up in here to give the range report on the GSG-5. Factory rear sight needed adustment right out of the box. Recoil as expected is nil. This gun is very heavy. 6 lbs. unloaded. definately need two hands to fire accurately. It's a fun gun, but not much use except as a plinker, it feels best shooting from the hip. I've never shot another gun ever that felt like that. The only reason it has a threaded barrel it the flash supressor threads onto it, as said supressor will not fit in the box attatched to the gun, a thread protector threads on in its place for transport. I bought a couple of the 22 round magazines for it and after the first loading, both mags then held 24 rounds each without a problem. Zero misfires in my hands. Ran like a champ until I let my 9yo daughter shoot it. (actually I made her) At that point she got one fte. No problem though, stripped the mag, ran the bolt, and problem solved. Good practice for fte but she limped it, I watched her. I ran about 100 rounds through it, which I know isn't much, but I ran out of stuff to shoot and was tired of target shooting with it.