More ranges in Finland

[wack99]

Given the current shortfall of our armed forces, maybe an idea to consider.

From The Guardian.

Football, ice hockey … shooting?

Finland hopes hobby will boost national defence
Nato’s newest member, which shares 830-mile border with Russia, plans to open hundreds of new shooting ranges

Finland plans to open more than 300 new shooting ranges to encourage more citizens to take up the hobby in the interest of national defence.

It is hoped that shooting in the Nordic country – which last year became Nato’s newest member and which shares a 830-mile (1,330km) border with Russia – could become as popular as football or ice hockey.

There are about 670 shooting ranges in Finland, down from about 2,000 at the turn of the century. By 2030, the government plans to increase the number to about 1,000.

Jukka Kopra, a National Coalition party MP and the chair of Finland’s defence committee, told the Guardian: “The present government aims to increase the amount of shooting ranges in Finland from roughly 600-700 up to 1,000. This is because of our defence model, which benefits from people having and developing their shooting skills on their own.”

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the popularity of voluntary training courses aimed at teaching reservists and civilians how to defend Finland has doubled. There hasalso been a big increase in the number of Finns applying for gun licences.

Last year the Finnish defence training and education association MPK put on 116,000 training days, a significant increase on previous years when there were usually about 50,000.

MPK’s executive director, Antti Lehtisalo, said enthusiasm among Finnish people to defend their country was strong. “We have a very high will to defend the country.”

He said that after completing the courses, participants needed to practise their new skills on shooting ranges.

“One part of this training and education is of course education in shooting because people want to be part of this comprehensive security, so they’re coming to our courses and after that we need more shooting ranges.”

Lehtisalo said shooting was only permitted on ranges, and civilians were given thorough safety training.

The defence ministry said it planned to “safeguard the activities of Finland’s shooting ranges and promote the establishment of new shooting ranges”.

A spokesperson added: “The environmental permit processes and legislation concerning shooting ranges will be streamlined. The target for the number of outdoor shooting ranges will be about 1,000 by the end of the decade. The focus will be on establishing a sufficient number of rifle and tactical ranges throughout the country.”

[Wolftrapper]

Very smart, progressive, common sense thinking on their part.
Good for them. They set a fine example.

[32-40win]

Some strange to us gun laws in the Scandinavian & Baltic countries, all of course related to EU and ITAR, maybe they'll be changing some of them due to all of this.

[Scott h]

Originally Posted by Wolftrapper

Very smart, progressive, common sense thinking on their part.
Good for them. They set a fine example.

The Finns seem to be ahead of the rest of the world in many areas, with a very well trained, well armed, civilian militia being only one example. Having the Russians as a neighbour tends to focus the electorate as they know it's just a matter of time before they try something again.

[elkhunter11]

Meanwhile, our government would be happy to close all ranges, and totally disarm all Canadian citizens.

[Pathfinder76]

Well, we aren’t neighbours to Russia.

Oh wait……

[The Cook]

Sparkle sox will soon outlaw nerf guns as they obviously turn children into criminals at an early age and they only come in blue and orange colour.

[58thecat]

Funny how you eventually realize after a long period of time that you’re bordering next to a mad man.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ghfalls]

It’s nice to see news that’s great once in a while. Way to go Finland!

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Funny how you eventually realize after a long period of time that you’re bordering next to a mad man.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Every country in North America can say the same.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by Scott h

The Finns seem to be ahead of the rest of the world in many areas, with a very well trained, well armed, civilian militia being only one example. Having the Russians as a neighbour tends to focus the electorate as they know it's just a matter of time before they try something again.

Finland has learned the hard way, Russia is not to be trusted, there is little doubt Putin has a claim on them as well.

[KGB]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

Finland has learned the hard way, Russia is not to be trusted, there is little doubt Putin has a claim on them as well.

Yep, along with Alaska, a few former colonies around the world etc…

[Trochu]

And let them use suppressors for less disturbance.

[Scott h]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

Finland has learned the hard way, Russia is not to be trusted, there is little doubt Putin has a claim on them as well.

It got a little harder for the Russians now that Finland is firmly in Nato. Next up is Sweden. Putins world is getting smaller by the day.

[kayaker]

Lapua are smiling

[KGB]

Originally Posted by Scott h

It got a little harder for the Russians now that Finland is firmly in Nato. Next up is Sweden. Putins world is getting smaller by the day.

I don’t really think he cares if they join nato or not. They have been in the opposite corner of ideology since 1917. At the same time Sweden is probably more socialist now than Russia, lol! And Finland has lots to loose if they end up alienating Russia. Russians used to walk across the border to Finland for shopping, skiing, medical services etc etc etc….Huge trade partners. The border towns were blossoming from incoming Russian money.
Lots of water under the bridge since the war between Russia and Finland. Saying that Putin (Russia) wants the Finland back is kinda same as saying Mexico wants California back…

[Scott h]

Originally Posted by KGB

I don’t really think he cares if they join nato or not. They have been in the opposite corner of ideology since 1917. At the same time Sweden is probably more socialist now than Russia, lol! And Finland has lots to loose if they end up alienating Russia. Russians used to walk across the border to Finland for shopping, skiing, medical services etc etc etc….Huge trade partners. The border towns were blossoming from incoming Russian money.
Lots of water under the bridge since the war between Russia and Finland. Saying that Putin (Russia) wants the Finland back is kinda same as saying Mexico wants California back…

Putin doesn't care about them joining Nato??? Really?? That's a good one.
Finland itself has nothing to lose by excluding Russians, and it certainly doesn't need Russian "tourists". The Finns tolerated them, took some of their cash, but certainly didn't need their business. They've basically closed most of the border off to Russians, like a good chunk of Europe, and seem to be better off for it.
I do however agree with your point about the Swedes being more socialist that Russia, which by anybody's definition is a modern fascist state.
As for wanting to occupy and expropriate Finland, didn't Putin say the same thing about Ukraine right before he invaded the country and started this latest Russian war??? As a rule it's safe to assume the old rule about "lying if they're lips are moving".

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by Scott h

Putin doesn't care about them joining Nato??? Really?? That's a good one.
Finland itself has nothing to lose by excluding Russians, and it certainly doesn't need Russian "tourists". The Finns tolerated them, took some of their cash, but certainly didn't need their business. They've basically closed most of the border off to Russians, like a good chunk of Europe, and seem to be better off for it.
I do however agree with your point about the Swedes being more socialist that Russia, which by anybody's definition is a modern fascist state.
As for wanting to occupy and expropriate Finland, didn't Putin say the same thing about Ukraine right before he invaded the country and started this latest Russian war??? As a rule it's safe to assume the old rule about "lying if they're lips are moving".

Forgive me for being a pessimist, but the West has lost it's spine, the Germans and French proved that in Afghanistan. As long as we can pay off the Barbarians all is well, shedding blood not so much, the way the Roman Empire ended.

[Scott h]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

Forgive me for being a pessimist, but the West has lost it's spine, the Germans and French proved that in Afghanistan. As long as we can pay off the Barbarians all is well, shedding blood not so much, the way the Roman Empire ended.

I certainly hope you're incorrect in this case. It seems that although the US is still fighting it's isolationist base (the same people that kept the US out of WW1 and 2 until the heavy lifting was over) the Europeans are in fact digging in to help. They seem to understand that normalizing relations with Russians was in fact the worst policy ever, and it's time to undo that....ASAP.
Hopefully the long promised longer range weapons get delivered soon, so that the Russians supporting this invasion get the privilege of experiencing it in their own back yard.

[Supergrit]

It is really to bad the west hasn’t given ukrain the longer weapons to end this war.
If russsia would have occupied ukrain in a couple of weeks then I would have been scared of russsian expansion. This war has just proven that Russia is going no we’re in a conventional war when the other country has western weapons. Ukrain is a Russian neighbour and they barely make progress.
The only thing scary about Russia is its nuclear weapons but I wonder how much of these actually work but the nukes it only takes one to destroy so much

[KGB]

Originally Posted by Scott h

Putin doesn't care about them joining Nato??? Really?? That's a good one.
Finland itself has nothing to lose by excluding Russians, and it certainly doesn't need Russian "tourists". The Finns tolerated them, took some of their cash, but certainly didn't need their business. They've basically closed most of the border off to Russians, like a good chunk of Europe, and seem to be better off for it.
I do however agree with your point about the Swedes being more socialist that Russia, which by anybody's definition is a modern fascist state.
As for wanting to occupy and expropriate Finland, didn't Putin say the same thing about Ukraine right before he invaded the country and started this latest Russian war??? As a rule it's safe to assume the old rule about "lying if their lips are moving".

Well let me rephrase myself. It’s not like he doesn’t care, but rather it doesn’t have a strategic sense. If you think that Russia is going to attack Finland just because they did in the past- it’s a ridiculous statement! Why don’t they also attack Sweden like Peter the Great did? Or roll all over the Europe just like they did in 1944-1945? Oh I forgot France! Napoleon invaded Russia and the Russian troops marched into Paris…. Common, think before you post nonsense!

[Sundancefisher]

Imagine if ammo was cheap and ranges common.

Combine it with archery it would make for some great time outdoors with the family.

Originally Posted by KGB

I don’t really think he cares if they join nato or not. They have been in the opposite corner of ideology since 1917. At the same time Sweden is probably more socialist now than Russia, lol! And Finland has lots to loose if they end up alienating Russia. Russians used to walk across the border to Finland for shopping, skiing, medical services etc etc etc….Huge trade partners. The border towns were blossoming from incoming Russian money.
Lots of water under the bridge since the war between Russia and Finland. Saying that Putin (Russia) wants the Finland back is kinda same as saying Mexico wants California back…

Russia isn’t socialist. It’s a fascist dictatorship run exclusively by Putin for Putin. Sweden and Russia have very little in common.

If Russia thought they could successfully invade Finland they for sure would as their past behavior has shown.

[KGB]

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

Imagine if ammo was cheap and ranges common.

Combine it with archery it would make for some great time outdoors with the family.



Russia isn’t socialist. It’s a dictatorship run exclusively by Putin for Putin. Sweden and Russia have very little in common.

If Russia thought they could successfully invade Finland they for sure would as their past behavior has shown.

🤦*♂️🤦*♂️ Sure, they will also invade Sweden, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the rest of Europe, then will advance into Mongolia, may be Afghanistan again? Please give me a break!
I didn’t say Russia is socialist, I said Sweden is way more socialist than Russia. And communism is dictatorship, same poop just different color.

[Scott h]

Originally Posted by KGB

Well let me rephrase myself. It’s not like he doesn’t care, but rather it doesn’t have a strategic sense. If you think that Russia is going to attack Finland just because they did in the past- it’s a ridiculous statement! Why don’t they also attack Sweden like Peter the Great did? Or roll all over the Europe just like they did in 1944-1945? Oh I forgot France! Napoleon invaded Russia and the Russian troops marched into Paris…. Common, think before you post nonsense!

Well Finland has something like 5 million people, and they have over 50,000 bomb shelters in the country...... I think they have a good sense of what innate Russian tendency's can lead to.
You forgot just a few of Russias latest invasions.
Ukraine 2014
Georgia 2008
Chechnya 1994
Chechnya 2000
Ukraine 2022

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by Scott h

Well Finland has something like 5 million people, and they have over 50,000 bomb shelters in the country...... I think they have a good sense of what innate Russian tendency's can lead to.
You forgot just a few of Russias latest invasions.
Ukraine 2014
Georgia 2008
Chechnya 1994
Chechnya 2000
Ukraine 2022

I thought all of these are just “Special Friendship Operations”.



Can’t use the word invasion. Please report to your nearest Russian embassy for a spanking.

[fishnguy]

You can’t invade itself. Never heard of a country called Chechnya, or Ichkeria, or Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, or Islamic Emirate of Caucasus, and so on.

Some of the things you guys post are extremely weird, especially for smart people, which you are.

[6.5 shooter]

Not more then 50 years ago, there use to be ranges under every Royal Canadian Legion and Scout halls across the country. Rifles were displayed freely in the back of every pickup truck. A right of passage was to go gopher/ hunting with your family. Then along came the "PROGGRESIVES" in the form of the Liberal party and all the fine things your saying and admiring about Finland went away. The only person you have to blame, is the one in the mirror.

[KGB]

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

Not more then 50 years ago, there use to be ranges under every Royal Canadian Legion and Scout halls across the country. Rifles were displayed freely in the back of every pickup truck. A right of passage was to go gopher/ hunting with your family. Then along came the "PROGGRESIVES" in the form of the Liberal party and all the fine things your saying and admiring about Finland went away. The only person you have to blame, is the one in the mirror.

Buddy, you are getting the award for the best post of the month! Hell no- best post of the year!

[calgarychef]

I’ve always been an advocate of every citizen being issued at least one firearm and spending a week or two a year learning “civil preparedness.” Firearms use, physical activity, “survival training” for various situations, first aid. Etc.

Having a country with citizens even a bit trained to react and help out in emergencies would alter the whole social fabric of our society in a positive manner.