[marktwain]

Notice how they trot out the standard false choices of the anti freedom groups. This article is more balanced than most, though.

Still, they fail to mention the most important use of guns, which is defense of self, community, and nation. It this against the law in Finland? Perhaps a Finnish freind can educate us on this.

[DJ Taylor]

People cannot legislate away the threat of an attack by mad men. If this mad man in Finland couldn't have legally obtained a pistol to carry out his insanity, he would've probably used a shotgun or an illegally obtained pistol.

What's the answer to this dilemma? I don't know, but I do know that when law abiding citizens are threatened by madmen, the answer to the problem is not for their elected government to disarm law abiding citizens.

[ajwharton]

Finland's firearm legacy was always bound to fail because of some crap like this. That is how they did Britain and Australia. The template is the same: seize on a particular firearm murder/massacre, hype it to the heavens, claim that it could have been stopped, and then ban some/all guns.

Here in the US, it'll likely be the mythical "right-wing militia" groups again, especially of Zero is prez.

[Retch_Sweeney]

Remind the Suomalainen that Russia is flexing its muscles again.

[magslinger]

According to a Swiss estimate, Finland has an estimated 2,375,000 legal and illegal firearms - that is, one gun for nearly every second Finn.

There is the problem right there. They don't have half enough weapons. If they had enough guns, there would be at least one for every Finn.

My definition of too many guns is a state where single twelve gauges and .38 revolvers are standing on street corners begging every person who passes to take them home.

[from occupied ga]

I see short memories (people not remembering just what a dismal president Jimmah with this socialist BS was) are not just a problem in the US. You’d think the Finns would have remembered 1939 and how many civilian arms were used then. Do these people ever study history?

[Ancesthntr]

How sad that the people of Finland, whose grandfathers took out Red Army invaders 40:1 in the Winter War in defense of their homeland due to the incredible shooting skills, seem on the verge of banning guns because of the actions of a couple of nuts...aided,of course, by the ‘’well-meaning’’ government security officials.

Whatever the country, any call to make ordinary, law-abiding citizens hand over their liberties based on the actions of madmen or criminals is an unforgivable affront to human dignity.

[laotzu]

the shooters used the handguns for the specific purpose for which this type of weapon was originally developed

To shoot bullets?

[Vanders9]

In the words of Kalle Liesinen: “A ban on weapons is a palliative for the conscience, when we do not dare ask why people go crazy, and why they cannot be sent to treatment in time.”

Thats the most important comment in the piece. There seems to be an increasing number of people who are going stir crazy and deciding that mass murder, usually followed by suicide, is the only option left in their lives. A knee jerk reaction of banning handguns after such an atrocity may be very understandable but it only addresses the problem of HOW, when we should be asking WHY.

[JTWildfeather]

Prostitution is illegal and banned and there are no hookers in New York City anymore? Drugs are banned and illegal and there are no drugs in LA anymore. Corruption in government is illegal and banned and there is no corruption in office anymore. Pretty good, huh? Go ahead .. make all handguns illegal and ban them. How wonderful ... no guns or violence anymore. My Sicilian grandfather had only one word for this kind of thinking ... “Ignoranza!”

[CPOSharky]

Finns have already disarmed people in other countries.

Huh?

[truemiester]

When you live that close to Russia, as the Finns do, It should be an Anti-Tank weapon.

[Hawthorn]

The author of this article seems to be a well-meaning, but a terribly uninformed person.

The NRA should send John Lott to Finland for a semester as a visiting professor!

[philled]

Britain banned practically all handguns in 1997

And Britain has given up. Britain experiences considerably more crime and violence today. There has been a movement to ban knives. Perps have greater rights than victims. The latest government suggestion was for people to leave their garden sheds unlocked so that they would not be damaged when thieves steal their contents. Not with a bang but with a whimper...

[metmom]

Acquiring a gun would become at least much more difficult for the likes of the Jokela and Kauhajoki killers.

No, it wouldn't. Criminals will get guns if they want them.

Just like how making gun free zones in schools has protected students everywhere.

[The KG9 Kid]

Where’s the Bjärf Alert?

[MSF BU]

It might be interesting to watch if Finland’s answer to the NRA can stop this.

[PLMerite]

“What is most important for us? Protection of privacy? Protection of property? Freedom to pursue a hobby? Or perhaps the freedom to live in a country where there is no need to fear getting shot at school.”

Next time the Red Army comes across the border, don’t run crying to me.

[paul51]

After all, Britain banned practically all handguns in 1997, soon after the Dunblane school massacre in Scotland, which claimed the lives of 16 children. Why not in Finland?

If you have to ask.....