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General Category => General Talk => Topic started by: AmmoNight on May 29, 2016, 04:06:55 PM

Title: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on May 29, 2016, 04:06:55 PM
Hi, everybody!

I'm a new guy on this forum and I'd like to introduce myself. I'm a 46-year-old man, who was born in the USSR and moved to the US 10 years ago. I've been a gun enthusiast for all my life, but due to the policies of the country of my origin and to the fact that I have muscular dystrophy disease starting the first year of my life, I had very limited access not just to firearms (clearly speaking, I had no access, at all, as well as millions of people over there), but even to the information about guns – until the Internet came. I was never able to shoot due to the weakness of my muscles.

Courtesy of this forum's administration, I am going to do Ask Me Anything. I will post an update about day and time. Thank you!




Meet Yuri Sivitski (http://gunl.ink/MeetYuri)

Check out the GoFundMe page (http://gunl.ink/HelpYuriShoot) to help Yuri get the equipment he needs to go shooting - http://gunl.ink/HelpYuriShoot

- GL
Title: Re: New guy entering
Post by: GunLink on May 29, 2016, 04:21:32 PM
Meet Yuri Sivitski (http://gunl.ink/MeetYuri)
http://gunl.ink/MeetYuri

How One Disabled USSR-Born Shooting Enthusiast is Chasing the American Dream

...Given the nature of the Soviets’ harsh restrictions on firearm ownership by the general public and Mr. Sivitski’s condition, he did not have much opportunity to enjoy the shooting sports that he dreamed of, or even to go to a library to learn more about the subject that he loved.  For years, a meager selection of a few books and magazines were his only source of information on the topic, so he read and re-read them over and over.  And then… the internet came.  With this nearly limitless supply of information and knowledge now available to him via the internet through the use of assistive technologies, Yuri described himself as a “dimensionless sponge” to soak up information.  He was finally able to pursue knowledge about his passion, even if he was not able to put it into practice on the firing line... (continue reading at http://gunl.ink/MeetYuri)
Title: Re: New guy entering
Post by: masfonos on May 29, 2016, 04:39:35 PM
Hi and welcome to the forums.  Good luck getting what you need to get out and go shooting!  It's a great pastime filled with a lot of great people.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: GunLink on May 29, 2016, 05:03:26 PM
Yuri - you mentioned in our correspondence that your real dream is to go hunting. 

Do you have a particular type of hunting that you wish to do?  Small game (rabbits, squirrels), larger domestic game (whitetail deer, turkey), an African safari?  There is some good upland game bird hunting near your area, is that something you are interested in?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on May 29, 2016, 05:17:35 PM
Well, African safari seems a little bit unrealistic :) deer and turkey are definitely on the list. Actually, turkey looks even more exciting. And, of course, there is feral swine – and there are no seasonal limits.
Title: Re: New guy entering
Post by: AmmoNight on May 29, 2016, 05:45:41 PM
Thank you!

Hi and welcome to the forums.  Good luck getting what you need to get out and go shooting!  It's a great pastime filled with a lot of great people.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on May 29, 2016, 05:49:42 PM
Welcome.

What is your dream firearm?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on May 29, 2016, 06:03:31 PM
Depending on application. For hunting that would be Browning BAR 30-06 (that would be non-practical for hunting deer in Ohio, though – there is a very limited list of guns allowed for hunting deer over here). For fun – some Barrett :)  and I can go on for hours about old (and not so old) military guns.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on May 29, 2016, 06:37:03 PM
I made my first 1000yard shot with a Barret in 7mm. It was pretty awesome.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on May 29, 2016, 06:40:09 PM
I have a ton of questions for you by the way.

Whats your biggest concern for the USA currently?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on May 29, 2016, 06:58:28 PM
There is a bunch. I don't even know what to start with. The situation with presidential election, for example: a couple years ago my friends and I were discussing and agreeing that after Obama administration there was no chance that the next president would be a Democrat. Here we go: it looks like a bad dream –both candidates on democratic side can compete, who can do more harm to America; nevertheless, both of them have great chances of winning in general election. And, unfortunately, on the Republican side is a total mess. I was so hoping that Ted Cruz would make it to the convention. Well… The future we have ahead of us is so murky.

I have a ton of questions for you by the way.

Whats your biggest concern for the USA currently?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on May 29, 2016, 06:59:39 PM
Good for you! :)

I made my first 1000yard shot with a Barret in 7mm. It was pretty awesome.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on May 30, 2016, 01:10:30 PM
Happy Memorial Day, everyone!
So, no more questions for me? I've been just getting started :)
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: Glockzilla3K on May 30, 2016, 03:08:27 PM
How do you shoot the AR in your picture with out the special equipment now?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: masfonos on May 30, 2016, 03:34:45 PM
There is a bunch. I don't even know what to start with. The situation with presidential election, for example: a couple years ago my friends and I were discussing and agreeing that after Obama administration there was no chance that the next president would be a Democrat. Here we go: it looks like a bad dream –both candidates on democratic side can compete, who can do more harm to America; nevertheless, both of them have great chances of winning in general election. And, unfortunately, on the Republican side is a total mess. I was so hoping that Ted Cruz would make it to the convention. Well… The future we have ahead of us is so murky.


You must have just been around 20 or so when the Soviet Union dissolved.  Having lived under that system, though the transition, in a post USSR country, and then in the US, what's your take on Sanders?  What about all the millennials who are nuts about him?  There's another thread (http://gunlink.info/forums/index.php?topic=1694.0) about how to talk to his supporters to "correct" them.  Input? 

I'm sure you've seen Garry Kasparov's take (http://louderwithcrowder.com/former-russian-chess-world-champion-garry-kasparov-smashes-socialism/), who has a similar background by now.

(http://louderwithcrowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/GarryKasparov1.jpg)
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on May 30, 2016, 04:25:00 PM
I don't - my wife does. The picture shows the first cleaning session after she shot it for the first time.  I was surprised that it wasn't bad, at all.

How do you shoot the AR in your picture with out the special equipment now?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on May 30, 2016, 05:33:34 PM
I was 21. It was a great excitement. Real changes started. Then, three years later in 1994 Alexander Lukashenko was elected the first president of Belarus. A populist, ignorant man. and he took everything into his hands soooo well that he still has been an "elected" president - I kid you not.  At least five of his political opponents has vanished or died under... hmm, strange circumstances. I have to admit, that economically Belarus wasn't too bad, but democracy has been choked to death.

About Sanders: not a single person known to me, who moved to the United States from former Soviet Union (and, believe me, I know a lot of people) will vote for Sanders. Because we know oooh so well, what socialism is. What "free stuff for everybody" means. It hurts like hell when I see young people going crazy about Sanders and his proposed "political revolution". I will check out the thread you suggested and see if I can make some input. And, yes – Kasparov  is a very smart man, and he put it just perfectly. I read that article and I could not said better than he did.



You must have just been around 20 or so when the Soviet Union dissolved.  Having lived under that system, though the transition, in a post USSR country, and then in the US, what's your take on Sanders?  What about all the millennials who are nuts about him?  There's another thread (http://gunlink.info/forums/index.php?topic=1694.0) about how to talk to his supporters to "correct" them.  Input? 

I'm sure you've seen Garry Kasparov's take (http://louderwithcrowder.com/former-russian-chess-world-champion-garry-kasparov-smashes-socialism/), who has a similar background by now.

(http://louderwithcrowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/GarryKasparov1.jpg)
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: Free-Fall on May 30, 2016, 08:59:37 PM
hi, how did you get interested in guns if you can't have them in ussr?  did anyone u know have guns?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on May 30, 2016, 09:05:27 PM
I'm assuming you still have family and friends in Belarus. What's your biggest concern for Belarus? Does the Ukraine/Russia situation worry you at all?

I was pulling for Cruz too
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on May 31, 2016, 08:30:36 AM
Well, as you know, forbidden fruit is most desirable :) the only time I had a chance to touch a real gun was when we visited our relatives in the remote village. My second uncle showed me his double-barreled shotgun and let me hold it for a couple of minutes. It was so heavy I couldn't hold it so I put it in my laps. I was 12 or so at that time. that's all experience I had by then.
How my interest started… As I said, I cannot remember that's exactly. I believe, a lot of that came from my father: he served in Soviet Army as an aircraft weapons mechanic. There wasn't gunsmithing involved, but weapons loading/unloading and maintenance on warplanes. He told me a lot of stories. Also, from him I first time I heard about SKS carbine – before that I was sure that only AKs were issued to soldiers. Also, lots and lots of movies about WWII also affected my imagination.
Nowadays it's a little bit "simpler"  over there to get a hunting license and buy a shotgun.  a person just has to bring to police:  certificate from a psychiatrist that he is not a cuckoo; certificate from an ophthalmologist that he has good enough eye vision; certificate from a doctor that  he is not an alcoholic or drug addict; regular physical exam from primary care physician; also having a safe or metal locking box is mandatory. if you are a good boy, after five years you can get permission to buy a hunting carbine with a rifled barrel.  to buy or sell a gun, you have to get permission from police and register the sale or purchase with them. When some governmental event is going to occur, all gun owners are obligated to go to a local police and leave their guns over there to be stored until further notice; after that you can go and pick it up (or not, haha).



hi, how did you get interested in guns if you can't have them in ussr?  did anyone u know have guns?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on May 31, 2016, 09:08:32 AM
I do have family and a lot of friends back there. The biggest concern is that the economy (thanks to "president" Lukashenko it's weak and ugly) goes down after economic sanctions to Russia were applied – the economy of Belarus is unstable and tied to Russia  very much. also, Lukashenko  is not going to give up the presidency anytime soon, if ever. His dragging around his youngest son (literally bringing the 12-year kid to governmental summits, where he sits next to him, etc.) and openly saying that he is preparing the boy to be his successor.
 Of course, the situation in Ukraine is a pain. My wife is Ukrainian, so that's one of the reasons why it's so important to us. And, even if she wasn't, the situation itself is horrible and ugly. Putin  is trying to grab everything he can and wants, and weakness of European and, unfortunately, our current administration allows him to do that. Of course, economy sanctions are better than nothing but  the weakness of Obama's foreign policy enabled Putin's actions in the first place.

I'm assuming you still have family and friends in Belarus. What's your biggest concern for Belarus? Does the Ukraine/Russia situation worry you at all?

I was pulling for Cruz too
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: GunLink on June 01, 2016, 10:06:29 AM
I don't - my wife does. The picture shows the first cleaning session after she shot it for the first time.  I was surprised that it wasn't bad, at all.

How do you shoot the AR in your picture with out the special equipment now?

You told us about it a little bit in our emails... Can you tell us more about what you did to ease your wife into firearms and shooting? 

Is she now as enthusiastic about firearms and gun rights as you are?  Is she also a member of the pro-gun organizations that you mentioned belonging to?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on June 01, 2016, 10:25:54 AM
My wife is NRA member, and she is a strong supporter of the 2nd amendment. It's hard to be as enthusiastic about firearms as myself :))  she is enjoying shooting, and she's very curious about guns, especially when she has a chance to shoot something new when we go to the range with our friends.

About converting her: it was a long desensitization “therapy” ;) We went to gun shows – as I said, she's been a curious person, and she loves me, so she could not decline when I asked her :) Actually, gun shows helped a big deal – she was so impressed and surprised with the people at the shows, with their friendliness; they looked neither like madmen nor criminals; they were helpful and nice. Many other things helped, too: talks and discussions, arguments and crime stats. However, one of the last blows to her views came from unexpected direction: they had a security training at her job and she suddenly found out about how many of her coworkers (deeply respected by her) owned guns. That was a breakthrough. After that, everything was much simpler.

I don't - my wife does. The picture shows the first cleaning session after she shot it for the first time.  I was surprised that it wasn't bad, at all.

How do you shoot the AR in your picture with out the special equipment now?

You told us about it a little bit in our emails... Can you tell us more about what you did to ease your wife into firearms and shooting? 

Is she now as enthusiastic about firearms and gun rights as you are?  Is she also a member of the pro-gun organizations that you mentioned belonging to?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on June 01, 2016, 10:49:17 AM
I do have family and a lot of friends back there. The biggest concern is that the economy (thanks to "president" Lukashenko it's weak and ugly) goes down after economic sanctions to Russia were applied – the economy of Belarus is unstable and tied to Russia  very much. also, Lukashenko  is not going to give up the presidency anytime soon, if ever. His dragging around his youngest son (literally bringing the 12-year kid to governmental summits, where he sits next to him, etc.) and openly saying that he is preparing the boy to be his successor.
 Of course, the situation in Ukraine is a pain. My wife is Ukrainian, so that's one of the reasons why it's so important to us. And, even if she wasn't, the situation itself is horrible and ugly. Putin  is trying to grab everything he can and wants, and weakness of European and, unfortunately, our current administration allows him to do that. Of course, economy sanctions are better than nothing but  the weakness of Obama's foreign policy enabled Putin's actions in the first place.

If you were POTUS right now, what do you think the proper actions against Russia would be?

Next question, are you surprised by how little the Ukraine situation was (and is being) covered  by the media here?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on June 01, 2016, 11:55:57 AM
 I would definitely be helping Ukraine with deadly weapons since the beginning of the conflict.  also, the economic sanctions might have been much firmer.
 I wouldn't say that the situation in Ukraine was covered totally poorly – at least at Fox News, there were daily updates. Of course, it could be more.  And of course, it washed out completely by now. I do not spend any significant amount of time to follow liberal mass media, so I couldn't say if they paid that enough attention.

I do have family and a lot of friends back there. The biggest concern is that the economy (thanks to "president" Lukashenko it's weak and ugly) goes down after economic sanctions to Russia were applied – the economy of Belarus is unstable and tied to Russia  very much. also, Lukashenko  is not going to give up the presidency anytime soon, if ever. His dragging around his youngest son (literally bringing the 12-year kid to governmental summits, where he sits next to him, etc.) and openly saying that he is preparing the boy to be his successor.
 Of course, the situation in Ukraine is a pain. My wife is Ukrainian, so that's one of the reasons why it's so important to us. And, even if she wasn't, the situation itself is horrible and ugly. Putin  is trying to grab everything he can and wants, and weakness of European and, unfortunately, our current administration allows him to do that. Of course, economy sanctions are better than nothing but  the weakness of Obama's foreign policy enabled Putin's actions in the first place.

If you were POTUS right now, what do you think the proper actions against Russia would be?

Next question, are you surprised by how little the Ukraine situation was (and is being) covered  by the media here?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: Free-Fall on June 01, 2016, 03:21:25 PM
Well, as you know, forbidden fruit is most desirable :) the only time I had a chance to touch a real gun was when we visited our relatives in the remote village. My second uncle showed me his double-barreled shotgun and let me hold it for a couple of minutes. It was so heavy I couldn't hold it so I put it in my laps. I was 12 or so at that time. that's all experience I had by then.
How my interest started… As I said, I cannot remember that's exactly. I believe, a lot of that came from my father: he served in Soviet Army as an aircraft weapons mechanic. There wasn't gunsmithing involved, but weapons loading/unloading and maintenance on warplanes. He told me a lot of stories. Also, from him I first time I heard about SKS carbine – before that I was sure that only AKs were issued to soldiers. Also, lots and lots of movies about WWII also affected my imagination.
Nowadays it's a little bit "simpler"  over there to get a hunting license and buy a shotgun.  a person just has to bring to police:  certificate from a psychiatrist that he is not a cuckoo; certificate from an ophthalmologist that he has good enough eye vision; certificate from a doctor that  he is not an alcoholic or drug addict; regular physical exam from primary care physician; also having a safe or metal locking box is mandatory. if you are a good boy, after five years you can get permission to buy a hunting carbine with a rifled barrel.  to buy or sell a gun, you have to get permission from police and register the sale or purchase with them. When some governmental event is going to occur, all gun owners are obligated to go to a local police and leave their guns over there to be stored until further notice; after that you can go and pick it up (or not, haha).



hi, how did you get interested in guns if you can't have them in ussr?  did anyone u know have guns?

You said a shotgun did you know people who had other guns like SKS and AK or just heard about them?  All those hoops to jump through is crazy.  I'm glad that we don't have that here.  then again clinton isn't back in the white house yet!
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on June 01, 2016, 03:35:19 PM
 you are kidding me, right? :D
There was NO (and there is NO) such thing as owning a military rifle legally – either full auto, semi-auto or bolt action!
As I mentioned above, there was a possibility to own a hunting carbine, but with many restrictions. Actually, when it still was Soviet Union I heard that only professional hunters in limited areas around Siberia, etc., could own guns with rifled barrels. But don't take my words on it, I'm not sure that this information is accurate.


You said a shotgun did you know people who had other guns like SKS and AK or just heard about them?  All those hoops to jump through is crazy.  I'm glad that we don't have that here.  then again clinton isn't back in the white house yet!
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: Free-Fall on June 03, 2016, 02:49:28 PM
you are kidding me, right? :D
There was NO (and there is NO) such thing as owning a military rifle legally – either full auto, semi-auto or bolt action!
As I mentioned above, there was a possibility to own a hunting carbine, but with many restrictions. Actually, when it still was Soviet Union I heard that only professional hunters in limited areas around Siberia, etc., could own guns with rifled barrels. But don't take my words on it, I'm not sure that this information is accurate.


You said a shotgun did you know people who had other guns like SKS and AK or just heard about them?  All those hoops to jump through is crazy.  I'm glad that we don't have that here.  then again clinton isn't back in the white house yet!


Were people mad about that or not care about having guns anyway?  Did people trap for food?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on June 04, 2016, 11:53:06 AM
Will the device from BeAdaptive be compatible with all firearms, or is it going to be its own stand alone firearm? If it's a stand alone, what are you hoping to have built?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on June 05, 2016, 01:58:05 PM
It is compatible with virtually all rifles (again, except for Barrett, probably, and something even more exotic :)) and handguns. It is really ingenious design.


Will the device from BeAdaptive be compatible with all firearms, or is it going to be its own stand alone firearm? If it's a stand alone, what are you hoping to have built?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on June 05, 2016, 08:41:54 PM
Nice. Have you had the opportunity to go to the Knob Creek Machine Gun show?

If you dont mind, when the USSR fell, what was the first thing/moment/event/etc that made you believe things were going to get better?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on June 08, 2016, 11:11:35 AM
No, I have not had that opportunity – hopefully, just yet.
On your second question: it's not that simple… Everything was changing. The Soviet Union fell. The republics became independent, smaller states without the center which was dictating  on everything – economy, politics, borders, etc. There was a smell of freedom in the air. And we were young – which, as you know, always adds to everything :) those times were not easy, but we felt that  we would overcome all issues, all troubles. The whole new world was ahead of us.

Nice. Have you had the opportunity to go to the Knob Creek Machine Gun show?

If you dont mind, when the USSR fell, what was the first thing/moment/event/etc that made you believe things were going to get better?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: Free-Fall on June 09, 2016, 03:46:22 PM
you are kidding me, right? :D
There was NO (and there is NO) such thing as owning a military rifle legally – either full auto, semi-auto or bolt action!
As I mentioned above, there was a possibility to own a hunting carbine, but with many restrictions. Actually, when it still was Soviet Union I heard that only professional hunters in limited areas around Siberia, etc., could own guns with rifled barrels. But don't take my words on it, I'm not sure that this information is accurate.


You said a shotgun did you know people who had other guns like SKS and AK or just heard about them?  All those hoops to jump through is crazy.  I'm glad that we don't have that here.  then again clinton isn't back in the white house yet!


Were people mad about that or not care about having guns anyway?  Did people trap for food?

..and what about criminals or gangs, did they have guns? Even after ban in UK, austrailia and places like that criminals still have guns and commit crimes with them.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on June 10, 2016, 10:14:33 AM

 I don't think that people were mad – it was a reality that we lived in. The absolute majority of people had (and still have) a concept in their heads, that guns are evil and not supposed to be accessible for everybody. decades of propaganda were very successful.
I wouldn't say that anybody I have known was trapping for food. There were not too many hunters in areas where I lived or visited. That doesn't mean it was everywhere that way.
Were people mad about that or not care about having guns anyway?  Did people trap for food?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on June 10, 2016, 10:18:01 AM
 Well, of course, criminals have guns  :D that's why they are called "criminals" – they do not care about the laws.
..and what about criminals or gangs, did they have guns? Even after ban in UK, austrailia and places like that criminals still have guns and commit crimes with them.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on June 15, 2016, 10:09:03 AM
Sorry about the delay, I just had a very busy week and couldn't keep up with everything.

I know you're in Ohio, how concerned are you with the RNC coming up?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on June 15, 2016, 03:22:03 PM
 I live in Greater Cleveland area, so the question you are asking  really important to me. Actually, many people are being intimidated with possible riots during the upcoming convention. I heard that lots of  people working in downtown Cleveland plan to leave for vacation to avoid necessity going to work  those days.   Cleveland is not going to be a pleasant place to visit at the end of this July.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on June 17, 2016, 05:48:04 PM
I have family about 40 minutes south of Cleveland and they said they're receiving warnings from local law enforcement that the protesters could end up in their area as Cleveland tries to keep protesters away. Should definitely be interesting and a lot stressful.

You said you're concerned with the POTUS election coming up. with it more likely that it is going to be a Clinton vs Trump election cycle, what are you concerns with the candidates?

You also mentioned that when the USSR fell, the feeling in the air was hope and people were young, do you think that is why sanders is seeing so much support from the young voters? they have hope - misplaced hope - but hope in a society where everyone is equal and everything is free?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on June 20, 2016, 12:21:47 PM
My main concern is, both candidates are awful. I know that I and my wife will never vote for Clinton. And I hate the idea of voting for Trump. But I will if I have to. If I only can make myself to do that. The situation is not just dramatic - it's tragic. We are facing the possibility of losing our country as we know it and love it if Clinton is elected. and I don't know what to expect if the Donald becomes the president. I just don't know.
 On your second question: I don't think it's comparable – our expectations when USSR fell and current expectations of young voters here in the US. We wanted freedom and a free market. We wanted to be a part of the free world. We wanted a government which would not  dictate us where to go and what to do. we wanted to work hard and see real changes around.
What  young voters in the states want now - "everything free for everyone." Doesn't remind you anything? It does to me. I had enough socialism and dictatorship in my life. My parents had it enough. Yes, there is a lot of problems in the states. Show me a country without problems. There is no such thing as "free stuff". If someone gets something for free, someone else has to pay for it. It's OK, if that someone pays voluntarily. It is not OK if that money is taken out of your pocket on a mandatory basis.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on June 20, 2016, 03:16:15 PM
I wish schools would bring in guest speakers like you to talk to kids during government classes. I know that i had a high school teacher in world history that taught us socialist russia was the way to go and she focused a lot on Russian history. That was close to 20 years ago; i ant even imagine what kids are being taught today now that my age group has become the teachers.

Whatts your favorite book? I know you said you spent a lot of time at the library as a kid, was your reading selection limited? Were therr a lot of banned books?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on June 22, 2016, 10:11:27 AM
I cannot name a favorite book – there are too many of them. During different periods of life, I have had different favorite books.  A lot of favorite authors – Mikhail Bulgakov, Vladimir Nabokov, Strugatski Boris and Arkadiy, to name a few. I am a huge fan of Stephen King; it was a very interesting experience to read his books in English after I read all of them translated to Russian - mostly poorly translated.
 There was a lot of banned books before perestroika started.  it would be a huge list of books and authors, so I'm not doing it here.
And, you misunderstood my statement about libraries: what I said, I COULD NOT visit libraries. There wasn't such a thing as an accessible environment in the Soviet Union. Nowadays the situation is getting better, but very slowly.  and when I was a kid, there were no wheelchair ramps even at medical clinics, forget the libraries. I was to the library two or three times in my childhood, and my father had to carry me in his arms up those stairs with dozens of steps. Hard to imagine? So, my access to literature was really limited. I read everything I could put my hands on. My mother  was visiting the library from time to time  getting me books – but, obviously, I did not have a choice, and was glad to read anything  she brought me. Sometimes it was really boring :)
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on June 23, 2016, 08:48:02 PM
can't say I have read anything by those authors. I have read quite a bit of Stephen King. I mostly prefer his older work, when he still lived in New England. I stopped reading his newer works after I read parts of his essay that was in response to the Newtown shooting. I'm a little torn about seeing the new "It" movie coming out in the near future. It was one of those books that I stayed up way too late as a teen reading. same with Salem's Lot.

There are banned books in the states, and some school districts ban a few others. Our focus my junior year in high school was "banned" books. We had to read "A Brave New World", "Lord of the Flies" and a few others that weren't very memorable.

did you have to get vaccines when you came to the states?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on June 30, 2016, 11:01:05 AM
Sorry for the delayed response – for some reason I did not receive a notification about the post in the forum. I totally agree with you about the old Stephen King books – I have always preferred those to most of his contemporary ones. And I purposely have not read his essays on guns, etc. I just didn't want to mix in my head his political views with my deep respect for him as a writer.
 I did not have to get vaccines here in the states because I had full physical exam back in Belarus before applying for visa –  I got confirmation that I had been vaccinated earlier, and  they just gave me one additional shot, which was missing.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on July 08, 2016, 12:31:51 AM
I didnt receive a notification either. Odd. I'm asking the web guy to look into it.

I was asking about the vaccines since where I am located, we have had a couple of measles cases that were recent refugees that didn't have to get vaccines and they didn't appear sick when they entered the country. Fortunately, the hospital was on top of everything and there was no spread, so two isolated cases within a family.

Was seeing a doctor easier in Belarus than it is here?

I hope you had a great Fourth of July.

Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on July 12, 2016, 11:48:17 AM
 Still, no notifications.
About vaccination: fortunately, it was very thorough and strictly encouraged (if not to say "enforced") in the Soviet Union. And the clinic where I got my physical exam before applying for a visa, wasn't just a regular one – it was a commercial clinic, which got mandatory authorization from American Consulate. Results from other medical institutions were not accepted by the embassy for this matter.
 My 4th of July was a little bit boring this year, unfortunately :( I didn't feel really good, so, the day was kind of spoiled. We went to see fireworks on the 2nd, though.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on July 18, 2016, 11:33:45 PM
Well, did you know that the Declaration of Independence was actually voted on and passed the Second Continental Congress on July 2nd, 1776? So you actually celebrated on the day that John Adams thought would be the day remembered.

Still trying to figure out of the notifications, plus I had a really busy week.

I wonder when they stopped asking for vaccine information for immigrants. Something i'll remember to look up some day.

I hope you're staying safe and away protests in Cleveland. 
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: GunLink on July 19, 2016, 12:24:50 PM
Sorry for the delayed response – for some reason I did not receive a notification about the post in the forum.


I didnt receive a notification either. Odd. I'm asking the web guy to look into it.


We are trying to pinpoint what the email notification issue (http://gunlink.info/forums/index.php?topic=1726.0) is.  It looks like some emails are working and some are not - topic reply notifications are apparently among the latter.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: GunLink on September 06, 2016, 09:52:52 PM
Sorry for the delayed response – for some reason I did not receive a notification about the post in the forum.


I didnt receive a notification either. Odd. I'm asking the web guy to look into it.


We are trying to pinpoint what the email notification issue (http://gunlink.info/forums/index.php?topic=1726.0) is.  It looks like some emails are working and some are not - topic reply notifications are apparently among the latter.

Email issues appear to have been resolved, finally.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on February 10, 2019, 06:03:31 PM
Hey there,

Just stopped by to say "hi" to all of you, guys. Thank you for your support and understanding.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: TheHarleyB on March 06, 2019, 06:04:07 PM
Hey there,

Just stopped by to say "hi" to all of you, guys. Thank you for your support and understanding.

👋 Hey

This was from before I joined so I hadn't seen this. Did you ever get your shooting chair?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on March 06, 2019, 06:11:19 PM
Hey there. It's not a shooting chair, to be accurate, but a special rig, which connects to the chair. Yes, I finally got it, put some serious efforts to get it done. Unfortunately, last year was really hard, so I did not have a chance to use it, yet. Hopefully, this summer will be better.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: masfonos on March 07, 2019, 03:54:42 PM
Welcome back, Yuri. Glad to hear that you got your rig but it's too bad that you're having issues and haven't got to use it yet. Be sure to post a range report here and share lots of pics.

What will you be shooting and when do you think you'll get a chance to try it out?
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: AmmoNight on March 08, 2019, 10:18:10 AM
Paper :) probably, not sooner than May or June.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: masfonos on March 10, 2019, 03:57:51 PM
Paper :) probably, not sooner than May or June.

I figured you would be shooting AT some sort of targets, I meant what kind of guns!  ;D

I'm looking forward to you getting to enjoy shooting with some of the barriers removed. It's really an enjoyable pass time and a valuable skill to hone.
Title: Re: New guy entering :: Yuri Sivitski - Ask Me Anything
Post by: LivingDeadGirl on March 22, 2019, 09:42:42 AM
Welcome back Yuri!  I’m very glad to hear you got the rig set up.   


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