Finland gun owners?

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dodo bird

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There is quite a bit behind the Finns' motivation. Maybe he mentioned some history?
Many people are unaware that the Soviet Union invaded part of 🇫🇮 Finland in the 1939-40 Winter War. History to the Finns is much more than just an academic subject.

Record bitterly cold weather and solid courage helped the Finns block the Soviets on the edge of their capital Helsinki.
A huge fraction of the Soviet troops were from the warmer regions such as southern Russia etc and huddled around campfires in Finland’s forests.

Sidenote: somebody has an attractive Finnish Mosin on the FALfiles' Marketplace. I have no connection.
 
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Finland, Sweden, and Norway have strong hunting cultures. Which is one reason they do well at Biathlon. It is also demonstrably difficult to invade a country that has extreme climate and terrain combined with a citizen's army. Ask Napoleon and Hitler. Both Germany and France's armies were decimated by Russian winter and partisans. Ask why nobody is ever feeling froggy about invading Switzerland. As a footnote to the Winter War, pyrrhic victory though it was, the Finn's did stop Russia despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered.
 
I should also mention that the Boer Wars was an excellent example of this. The Boers were 'n regtig burgerweermag (true citizen's army). They had no uniforms. They used their own horses, and their own rifles which as one British general observed, 'any man that comes within 700 yards of a Boer rifle is a dead man'. And this ragtag bunch of civilians in their working clothes, beat back an all out assault by the greatest empire on the planet. But they had rifle skills and the terrain was their biggest ally.
 
Finland is opening 300 ranges, with the idea being to get their citizens more involved in national defense. The long plan is to open 1000 nation wide. Living that close to the Bear, it certainly makes sense.

There is also an event called “Finnish Brutality”, where participants engage in a shooting event that simulates harsh combat conditions. They might have to shoot from a trench filled with freezing water, after a 2 mile run, and other situations of that type. The event attracts participants from all over, including “Forgotten Weapons” Ian McCollum, who looks like he’s wearing a combat kilt.

Here’a a link: https://soldiersystems.net/2023/08/...ers-practical-shooters-from-around-the-world/
 
They say that Generals are always preparing for the last war. While I'm encouraged to see shooting ranges being built and trying to get people into shooting, it is not rifles that will decide the outcome of future wars. Drones, rockets, IED's computers, technology, and air power will. Even armored vehicles like tanks are not nearly as useful as in the past.

Of course, foot soldiers and rifles will still play a role, but it will far less important than in the past. Take a look at Ukraine.
 
It might be a psychological comfort to the citizens of small 🇪🇪 Estonia (on Russian border) that the Finnish snd Estonian languages are said to be generally mutually comprehensible.

Also, the people in the three small Baltic countries might have become more “gun friendly” in the last few years?

What is related is Today’s headline in the Wall Street Journal about 🇫🇮 Finland’s next door neighbor :
“Sweden Clears Last Hurdle To Joining NATO”.
 
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Total aside here, but there's an interesting Russian song that features (I think) love being compared to being stabbed in the heart with a Finnish Puukko.

genius.com

Монгол Шуудан (Mongol Shuudan) – Финский нож (Finnish knife)

[Текст песни «Финский нож»] / [Припев] / И тебе в вечернем синем мраке / Чуется всегда одно и то ж / Будто кто-то мне в кабацкой пьяной драке / Саданул под сердце финский нож
genius.com genius.com
 
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dodo bird: there is an interesting YouTube video from either the Sako or Tikka factory.

Dave DeLaurent:

Quite frankly, gun websites probably aren’t “penalized” for allowing some remarks to wander away from the literal word “gun”.
It has worked for many years over at FALfiles or AKfiles.
Somehow they magically found extra digital space.
 
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Finland, Sweden, Norway and the Baltic Republics are all very much on a defense mobilization program given the threat posed by Putin’s territorial aggression and avowed expansionist policies. One can question the eventual military effectiveness of increased civilian marksmanship training but from a mindset adjustment perspective, it certainly sends a clear signal, one notably lacking in the U.S.
 
We do have a couple of members from Finland on the board, names escape me at the moment.

Perhaps they'll chime in soon.

As my Finnish grandfather always reminded me, Finland is a nation with a lot of good riflemen. I grew up regaled with the stories of Talvisota and the Continuation War.

Finland does have conscription for all males, IIRC the active duty obligation is slightly less than a year, and then one is transferred to the reserve.
Finn2.jpg
Finn1.jpg
 
Joining NATO was a big help for Finland, and also a benefit for the alliance. They have a lot of capability in small arms (Tikka, Valmet, Vitavitouri (or however it’s spelled)) and electronics (Nokia).

It’s also a valuable investment in a national gun culture. At least until they learn you can divert that money for private boondoggles and vacations in the Bahamas.

Edit: spelling vs autocorrect issues
 
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I wonder if this means they are going to change their gun ownership laws.
 
Finland getting into NATO was a big deal, same now that Sweden finally got past two wannabe Putin admirers, Turkey and Hungary.

Sweden can bring a lot of armaments, including their own fleet of highly capable SAAB Vigen fighter jets, considered one of the best.
 
Owning guns does not mean legally carrying guns concealed.
Over & over on gun forums: The ________ (usually small handgun) you have on you is better than the 1911, Glock 17, ect... left at home.
Owning guns & having them at home is nice but is of little use for self defense when you ain't at home.
Is legal concealed carry an option for "regular" citizens in Finland?
 
They also make great lever action rifles. (Sako Finnwolf in 243.)
-mike
 

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CDW4ME said:
Owning guns does not mean legally carrying guns concealed.
Over & over on gun forums: The ________ (usually small handgun) you have on you is better than the 1911, Glock 17, ect... left at home.
Owning guns & having them at home is nice but is of little use for self defense when you ain't at home.
Is legal concealed carry an option for "regular" citizens in Finland?
Click to expand...
Exactly. So often, people go gaga over some country when they profess to “like guns”, etc, when in reality their laws are horribly oppressive. Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side because that’s where the septic system is.
 
kwguy said:
I wonder if this means they are going to change their gun ownership laws
Click to expand...
Probably not as a result of joining NATO. If they join the EU, that will carry some requirements from Bruges about gun laws.

IIRC, the Finns require you to get a license to own firearms, but are not strict on the quantity of them. Safe storage is also mandated (again, IIRC)
 
I vaguely remember after last years Finnish Brutality, one of the guntubers made a video walking around the city asking regular people about gun culture there. I recall not a lot were into guns nor understood the need for one
 
Mars5l said:
I vaguely remember after last years Finnish Brutality, one of the guntubers made a video walking around the city asking regular people about gun culture there. I recall not a lot were into guns nor understood the need for one
Click to expand...
That’s because they don’t have any murder capitals like Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City , or DC.
 
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