Putin has bitten off far more than he can chew—and other European states should take note
Ukraine is noted by Wikipedia (linked to this article) as having the most liberal/tolerant legal attitude toward private gun ownership in Europe—including Switzerland. If one examines the policy as outlined on Wikipedia, one finds that it is quite similar to US 2nd Amendment protection of citizens’ right to keep and bear arms.
For those who don’t now own firearms in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the onset of Russian invasion offered to equip and train any Ukrainian citizen (restricted to those in possession of a Ukrainian ID card) who wished to receive such a firearm, ammunition, and training. Although this decree was in force in Kiev, one would assume that the decree was in force throughout remaining Ukrainian controlled territory.
A dedicated citizenry, committed to their nation’s survival, armed and willing to resist, plus the fact that they are fighting defensively, on their own home ground, in their own neighborhoods, gives Ukraine a tremendous advantage—even though they are facing a foe that has air control and better armor.
There is a second comment to be made: Zelenskyy is by no means a dictator. Notice that he didn’t mandate that citizens take up arms, but rather made them freely available to the willing.
The most distinctive hallmark of dictators is that they invalidate all citizens’ rights to keep and bear arms—leaving all significant weapons in the hands of the state police. If Zelenskyy had previously legally invalidated Ukrainians’ right to own and practice with their weapons (as in hunting), he would have 1) facilitated the Russian invasion, and 2) proved to anyone that he in fact was a dictator.
No wonder citizens of Ukraine are willing to risk death and fight the better equipped invaders. They have a great deal to lose.
Three cheers for Zelelnskyy and Ukraine!
For those who don’t now own firearms in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the onset of Russian invasion offered to equip and train any Ukrainian citizen (restricted to those in possession of a Ukrainian ID card) who wished to receive such a firearm, ammunition, and training. Although this decree was in force in Kiev, one would assume that the decree was in force throughout remaining Ukrainian controlled territory.
A dedicated citizenry, committed to their nation’s survival, armed and willing to resist, plus the fact that they are fighting defensively, on their own home ground, in their own neighborhoods, gives Ukraine a tremendous advantage—even though they are facing a foe that has air control and better armor.
There is a second comment to be made: Zelenskyy is by no means a dictator. Notice that he didn’t mandate that citizens take up arms, but rather made them freely available to the willing.
The most distinctive hallmark of dictators is that they invalidate all citizens’ rights to keep and bear arms—leaving all significant weapons in the hands of the state police. If Zelenskyy had previously legally invalidated Ukrainians’ right to own and practice with their weapons (as in hunting), he would have 1) facilitated the Russian invasion, and 2) proved to anyone that he in fact was a dictator.
No wonder citizens of Ukraine are willing to risk death and fight the better equipped invaders. They have a great deal to lose.
Three cheers for Zelelnskyy and Ukraine!
SOURCE URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_law_in_Ukraine
The Russian case for an unjustified expansion of NATO to its borders has merit, but Putin should make also his case that Russia has no intention of territorial conquest. Invading Ukraine isn't the way to make that case and present it to the world. Vilifying Putin, as MSM and world leaders are now doing (and have for some time been doing), isn't the answer either. Trump is correct in that he didn't go out of his way to vilify the dictators he was dealing with. The press (e.g. Stephanopoulos on this morning's ABC This Week) is going out of its way to attack Trump for referring to Putin (out of context) as "clever" and "genius." I see that as being diplomatic when you are confronting an adversary armed with nuclear weapons. You don't have to publicly insult someone when you are committed to curbing their aggression.
I favor Ukraine in its bid for independence from Russia but I don't live in the neighborhood--and I'm glad I don't.
The video I posted of 50-70 year old vets in Ukraine pledging to fight the Neo Nazi’s as they took up arms. Here is the link. https://celiafarber.substack.com/p/ho....
I find it remarkable how many people that know we have a fake news media and yet they still believe most lies that they put out. If they all hate Putin it makes me like him more.
Sure, there will be blood but when has that stopped Russia? I'm pretty sure most in Ukraine still feel kinship with Russia so this is looked at by many Ukrainian people as in-fighting.
My gut tells me this whole Russia-Ukraine situation is nothing more than the handshake agreeing to destroy any incriminating evidence against his bi-ministration and other US politicians across the spectrum while allowing Russia to shore up its currency (and potentially re-annex their former satellite).
no sane nation can trust the United States
when another democrat may end up in the Oval Office by hook or crook
Conceal carry is now law in most states with Republican legislatures and governors (such as Montana where I live). Ukrainians obviously have never enjoyed this until just a few days ago when they were invited by President Zelenskyy to carry weapons for the purpose of "self-defense."
We are now going to witness how far even a small amount of liberty regarding gun ownership goes in defeating tyrants and invaders, and who knows how many weapons have been kept in hiding that are now going to come out in the hands of a determined citizenry--as Ukrainians rally 'round their flag!
my 50 BMG can break a track, then i have a very pissed off tank sitting there, calling for friends...
President Putin has previous highlighted Satanism and pedophilia as one of the main challenges facing contemporary Russia. In a display of candor at the Valdai International Discussion Club, Putin described the "normalization of pedophilia" as a clear sign of "moral degradation creeping through Europe and the West". Putin observed that "supporters of an extreme, Western-stylee liberalism" were overlooking the fact that military-political problems and general social conditions are worsening, with much of the world forgetting the value of basic human decency. Focusing on the challenges faced by Russia in an international context on both foreign policy and moral flavor, Putin alluded to Satanism which he has known for a long time to be responsible for rotting the fabric of America at the core:
"We see many of the Euro-Atlantic countries are actually rejecting their roots, including the Christian values that constitute the basis of Western civilization. They are denying moral principles and all traditional identities: national, cultural, religious and even sexual. They are implementing policies that equate large families with same-sex partnerships, belief in God with the belief in Satan."