Evidence Links Monday's Shooting to Spree

Foxnews.com ^ | 10/7/2002 | Foxnews.com, AP

[coloradan]

To be fair, even if all these people had been armed they would still be dead. It's rather difficult to defend against an unexpected and well concealed sniper.

Maybe for the victims, but for all the onlookers too? There could be hundreds or thousands of armed people to each police officer ... if only MD would recognize the right to self defense. However, quite flatly they don't.

I think the police involved in this case are in the unenviable position of trying to find a very elusive target.

Again they could have the assitance of thousands of people to stop him, but they don't.

I'll cut the guy a break

I won't. The chief is in the position to advise people to defend themselves, but he doesn't - instead he grandstands for gun control, talking about "assault weapons" and "sniper rifles" etc, as if the type of gun makes any difference to the past - or future - dead and injured.

But I ask this: Why did he mention that they are defenseless? He enforces gun prohibitions there - he's partially responsible for the very fact of their defenselessness. As an executive official, he could order his officers to ignore gun violations - but he does not.

Maybe it's true the victims would still be dead even if they were armed. But then again, maybe not - and maybe not if onlookers were armed as well. But as it is, the only credible threat to this murderer is police officers - and they can't be everywhere at once.

[Denver Ditdat]

Why would a white supremacist shoot other whites?

For the same reason Charlie Manson's disciples killed Sharon Tate, her houseguests, and the LaBiancas.

To ignite a race war.

[GOPJ]

If an enemy military unit wanted to draw attention away from it's actions, what better way than to shoot innocent American citizens. All the police are looking for a white truck with black lettering, while the enemy goes about it's secret nefarious business. I know, unlikely. But still possible. We might not be at war with Iraq, but sometimes I fear they're at war with us.

Someone who wants to be caught (psycho, just wants to see what it is like to kill someone).....possible but not likely

but one thing is for sure it is terrorism.....

[pttttt]

"You think you're safe, but you're only as safe as your next step," Healy said.

Said her son: "I was scared."

I still am. Prayers for this child and the family.

They seem to have settled on the .223 as the round of choice. Not hard to see why, as hateful as its effects have been on the victims. Do any of these come with collapsible stocks that would make them easier to conceal or stash for someone else to pick up? There used to be an AR-7 .22 survival rifle (not the same thing, to be sure) which could be broken down into a small package. The single-shot tactic could lend itself to this; a single-shot .223 could be easier to break down and conceal, or even disguise as a non-weapon. Something to consider until disproved.

Also, watch home-schooling become more popular. Not that there weren't reasons before.

[SarahW]

Hmmm. I didn't know about the .223 thing. The Maryland connection is also unnerving.

[Abogado]

Does anybody know if shots were heard? Is is possible the shooter(s) is (are) using silnced weapon(s)?

[Boiler Plate]

One of male victims was indian, which is hard to distinguish from muslim or arab at a distance.

[Yasotay]

Thus it is likely that he is using a military grade sniper weapon with attachable sniper-grade silencer. Probably a scope too, maybe with laser target painter.

I have fired the M-21 (with suppressor) and the M-24. Most .223 rounds cannot be silenced (unless you get special subsonic rounds). There were "reports" according to the reports, I doubt if he is using a suppressor. He/They clearly can shoot ... as far as I can tell it still could be any weapon.

[Boiler Plate]

Another solution that is already in place are the traffic cameras used to report traffic.

[Stand_Up]

I also think that it is against MD law to use or purchase body armor.

[ConservativeLawyer]

it leads me to think this is international terrorism

I don't disagree with you, but if this is an international terrorist plot, why focus on only a relatively small area?

al Queda and/or Iraq could just as easily simultaneously activate several teams in various locals around the U.S. That is one of the main factors that makes me doubt my own instincts about this.

Unfortunately, this may remain unsolved, at least publicly, just like the Anthrax attacks. That means:

1. Justice won't be served; and

2. the media can insert whatever bogeyman they want to as the culprit.

[Stand_Up]

http://www.bulletproofme.com/What-s-New.shtml

[Boiler Plate]

Don't forget Katie Kennedy Townshend informed the viewing public last week in the gubenetorial debate that she "was in charge of crime". She then quickly corrected herself and announced that she was in charge of fighting crime here in Maryland.

She has been curiously silent during this crisis

[Shooter 2.5]

One of the very few facts we do know about this case is that a .224 bullet was used. That's the bullet used in eleven different cartridges. Until an empty case is found we won't know which cartridge was used.

[keepvotin]

I fear it is terrorism. There could be a small cell sending snipers out.

[Mixer]

What's curious is that the authorities have seemingly made a conscious decision not to broadcast any sort of physical description of anyone unusual spotted in the areas around these shootings

Because they don't have one that's worth anything.

Interesting.....the media had been reporting the descrption of the shooter as possibly Hispanic or Middle-Eastern and this has curiously been stomped on and not mentioned in the past few days.

[Shooter 2.5]

Shots were heard which means the killer isn't using a supressor.

[Shooter 2.5]

Thompson Contenders pistols, H-S Precision Pro Series pistols and Savage model 510/5516 pistols are chambered for .223 Remington.

[Yaelle]

Have any of the attacks taken place during 9 to 5? I have the feeling they have not. This guy probably lives in the area and has a job, and his coworkers have no idea they are sitting next to the perp.

[Yasotay]

The rifle still could have a suppressor .... when I would fire an M-21 w/suppressor it still sounded like a .22 (rimfire).