Why Every High School Student in Latvia Is Learning to Shoot a Gun

Politico ^ | 03/28/2026 07:00 AM EDT | By Marc Felix Serrao

[thecodont]

RIGA, Latvia — Sindija Brakovska is 18 years old and dreams of becoming a hairstylist or a dance teacher. She studies at the Riga Technical School of Tourism and Creative Industry, a vocational school centered on hospitality, tourism and fashion.

“I love girly stuff,” the tall Latvian tells me.

On this March morning, roughly two dozen girls between 16 and 18 are sitting in the classroom with Brakovska. Some of the girls look shy. Others sprawl with the studied boredom of teenagers everywhere. Top: A soldier walks in a classroom with students on both sides Bottom left: Close up a woman soldier with the Latvia military patch Bottom right: School in Latvia

Every high school student in Latvia receives military training. They learn to shoot and to find their way around the countryside using a compass and a map.

The room could be almost anywhere in Europe — if not for the rifles on the desks.

[Equine1952]

My first rifle was a 10C Remington Nylon in 1963. I was 11, it was 22lr. I knew how to load an M1 Gerand by 16 without mashing my thumb. You want to live free. Live and learn. IMO. Not a bad idea.

[Larry Lucido]

I wonder what kind of hat a Latvian Orthodox shooter wears to the range?

[Does so]

“My first rifle was a 10C Remington Nylon in 1963”

.
As Remington Nylons age, they start to smell bad; otherwise, a very reliable rifle.

[Does so]

Latvia borders Ukraine...

[BeauBo]

“Why Every High School Student in Latvia Is Learning to Shoot a Gun”

There are three reasons - Russia, Russia and Russia.

The same as Russia”s other neighbors.

[rellic]

Most every American knows these things.
Most every American Democrat even have
been exposed, although they revile it.
Even in the Gun hating state of Hawaii
where every gun by law has to registered
All my neighbors have guns.
I train my Democrat friends in gun safety.
Of course I use their guns since I don’t
have any.

[Equine1952]

Maybe you should clean your rifle.

[FreedomPoster]

>Latvia borders Ukraine...

No it doesn’t

Clockwise from the north - Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania. And the Baltic Sea.

Russia is the reason for this.

[spincaster]

It should be mandatory in every High school in America .

[sauropod]

.

[rellic]

Gun safety at the age where they get curious and play with tools!
In hind sight playing Indians and cowboys with cap
guns may not have been a good idea. If the child doesn’t differentiate a toy from a tool that can be bad.

[Turbo Pig]

Every High School Student in Latvia Is Learning to Shoot a Gun

This is what understanding potential threats looks like...

[tlozo]

Why Every High School Student in Latvia Is Learning to Shoot a Gun

Latvia has Russia on its border and only has 1.8 million people.

June 14, 1941: The first mass wave occurred, in which over 15,400 Latvian residents were deported to Siberia and Kazakhstan.

March 25, 1949: The largest wave, known as Operation Priboi ("Tidal Wave"), saw over 42,000 men, women, and children deported in just a few days.

Total Scope: Between 1944 and 1952, it is estimated that roughly 136,000 to 150,000 people were deported or imprisoned from Latvia alone. Many individuals died in harsh conditions (Gulag camps), making it a major demographic loss for the country.

June 14, 1941: The Soviet regime unleashed its wave of terror on the Baltic nations. Thousands of families in occupied Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia were arrested and deported to Siberia. Women, children, and the elderly suffered alongside others. Countless lives were lost to the cold and harsh camps.

[dennisw]

So nice to see clean/zero tattoos youths getting familiar with rifles. Because Vlad Putin. All the girls look normie.

[redfreedom]

I learned at a sports show where dealers show off their boats, UTV’s and guns that weapons are coming back into schools in the upper plains. I was quite shocked to hear this as I believed the leftist anti-gun mantra and teachers unions would never allow it.

I recall the days when I was a kid and a gun in school was a common thing no one looked twice at.

[AppyPappy]

So does Crimea

[redfreedom]

Their weapons appear to be of the AR platform complete with accessory rails.

I just checked with chatgpt, and the M16/M4 series and variants are the most popular among NATO forces today.

[Wonder Warthog]

Take the kid out for a shooting session with a real firearm. The universal solution to your postulated problem. After such a session “I” never had any difficulty discerning weapon from toy... I got my “inoculation” when I was about four.

[Redmen4ever]

“Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.” Wm. Shakespeare, Julius Ceasar