It looks like some may have changed their mind since 2022, and there seems to be a trend towards more control, especially of women and what they are “allowed” to do to protect themselves. Nothing new there, WOW (War on Women) has been going on since way back when religion was invented as an especially effective control tool.

Is it really so hard to understand, and what on flat Earth does your statement have to do with the point I’m making?

Al: The overall problem is too easy access to all kinds of weapons, including assault weapons, for just about anybody, until proven unfit because they have conducted mass murder, which is one mass killing too late. All is justified by what I believe is wrong interpretation of the the 2nd Amendment, which I tried to explain in the blog post above.
Who needs assault weapons, for any other reason than to kill as many as possible, as quickly as possible? Why is a deranged 18-year old able to stop by a gun store and buy an assault weapon on his way to a school to commit mass murder? Because the 2nd Amendment says that’s OK? Yeah, that makes sense!

It will be far more costly and risky for us, and the rest of the world, if Ukraine breaks

Per what I could find on line, so far, US has contributed $73B, and EU countries $27B, to support Ukraine’s war with Russia.
Apparently, grumbling by Republicans in the House has gotten the attention of Europeans, because I heard on today’s news the the Germans and others are beginning to realize that some of Uncle Sam’s purse string watchers are getting wise.

First I’d like to assure you that I have always admired the Norwegian military and equipment, and particularly admire the anti-Nazi accomplishments of the military and civilians of Norway during WWII.

Secondly, I know what NATO’s Article 5 is.

The current US President constantly bleats that all taxpayers should pay “their fair share”.
Why shouldn’t that Progressive idea apply to Norway’s taxpayers/defense contribution to NATO?
With Norway’s fat sovereign wealth fund the taxpayers could easily afford to spend more to make their military even more lethal to the enemy, like the US does, by applying Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity training for the Armed Forces.

I thought nonsense like this was beneath you, Al: “Uncle Sugardaddy’s armed forces are there as backup”.
Never even heard of NASAMS, the Norwegian-developed missile defense system credited with near 100% success rate in Ukraine?
Also sold to the US and a number of other countries.