Posted on 12/20/2024 1:51:40 AM PST by EBH
Unsettled by Russia’s expansionism and emboldened by its recent accession to NATO, Finland is rallying to strengthen its national self-defense beyond its traditional military capabilities.
The popularity of weapons training in the Nordic country has soared in recent months. Few places tell the story of the rise in Finnish affinity for self-defense more than shooting ranges that are riding a boom of interest.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order for a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine — another big Russian neighbor — in February 2022 continues to resonate in many Finnish minds, and partially explains the ballistics binge.
The Vantaa Reservist Association, which operates a gun range in a warehouse once used to make sex toys, in Kerava, north of Helsinki, has more than doubled its membership over the last two years and now counts over 2,100 members.
“They have something in the back of their head ringing that this is the skill I have to learn now,” said association chairman Antti Kettunen, standing among bullet-riddled targets. “I think that the wind has changed, now it’s blowing from the east.”
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
It seems countries like Poland and Finland that have dealt with the tender mercies of the USSR are arming up and training to defend their country from a Russia that looks a lot like the old USSR. Meanwhile in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. Dem socialists and a mentally damaged president call for unconstitutional restrictions on firearms ownership.
The end of the cold war made people soft.
bttt
They need to be practicing skills with drones, at least as much as with rifles.
Why can’t the people of Taiwan do the same?
Their government does not allow them to do so.
Taiwan should be armed like the Swiss.
Chinese history and culture do not value soldiers.
If it weren’t for James May and Top Gear, I doubt if I would’ve ever heard of “Sisu”.
Taiwan fell a long time ago.
Without firing a shot.
The ChiComs do it the easy way now.
They just buy a nation’s pols.
In the 1939-1940 Winter War -- USSR's invasion of Finland -- Finland received aid and volunteers from several countries including:
1939 Winter War, Russian equipment and manpower losses:
Total foreign volunteers = ~12,000 of Finland's 320,000 military forces during the 1939 Winter War.
Today, Finland's military totals around 900,000 including reserves and, as a NATO ally, it can draw on additional forces if needed.
As of today, there are no NATO troops stationed in Finland, but a recent Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the US grants US forces access to 15 Finish military bases, including 5 in the High North near Russia.
The DCA allows for pre-positioning of US equipment and weapons as well as the movement of US troops through Finland.
Russia's armed forces are, of course, much larger than Finland's -- theoretically around 3,000,000 including reserves.
However, Russia's border with Finland is 830 miles long out of Russia's 14,000 mile total border, and it seems unlikely that Russians would be willing to amass enough forces on its border with Finland while neglecting the remaining 13,000 miles of Russia's borders with others...
Yup. Still a menace to World Peace.
Some things never change.
Note to the Finns...
Psssst, the call is coming from INSIDE the house!!
Capisce?
Looks like he didn’t have a pencil. so he had to settle for a knife.
It ain't the 1930s - some things have obviously changed:
As Russia threats loom...
Russia’s expansionism...
Nice propaganda from the Associated Propaganda.
Finns have always known how to shoot back....they aren’t Manhattanites! It’s snowing out...good day to dust off and clean my Sakos!😎
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