Finland has declared its intention to establish 300 shooting ranges, aiming to foster heightened public engagement in national defense.

According to a representative from Finland’s defense committee, this initiative is designed to enhance the population’s shooting proficiency, particularly in response to growing concerns about potential threats from Russia.

While Finnish law mandates national army service for every male between 18 and 60, the government envisions that these new shooting ranges will encourage civilians to maintain and further develop their weapon skills beyond the conscription period outlined in the constitution.

Jukka Kopra, the Finnish politician, said: “The present government aims to increase the number of shooting ranges in Finland from roughly 600-700 up to 1,000,” The Telegraph reported.

“This is because of our defence model, which benefits from people having and developing their shooting skills on their own,” Kopra said.

Written by B.C. Begley