Hunter clubs members were allowed to have rifles. You needed (actually still need) to pass same medical test as for drivers license. Cannot be mentally ill, cannot be alcoholic.
Without hunter clubs it want possible to contro animal population. Rabbits, wolves, foxes are pretty devastating to farms. This apply to country.
In cities (cities in Ex/Ussr are smaller but densly populated) citizens didnt own firearms.
If you dont aim to be in some executive role / tv star / some very VVVVIP then dont dream about USSR kind of communism.
Humans are born to live free. It is impossible to be creative if you are totally controlled. In USSR you couldnt just decide to change work type. You could not decide easily, ok Ill be a an artist now. You had to learn before - in Academy Of Arts. And its rather hard if you have reached some age. And all your work would need to pass censorship.
Most tasks had very tight time schedules. Many couldnt cope with that and started to drink heavily. Why do you think russians drank/ still drink so much? Because of good life?
Medicine was better then (for poor people). Every one was "fixed" when needed. Now it is very expensive.
Communism does not work without brainwash, censorship and good wall between free world and communists. Cause when you see what you are not allowed to and you want this very bad. Then leaders have to give you that or have to keep saying that all other world is wicked.
Just like Putin is doing right now.