Maryland Sniper Shootings Update Thread

CNN, Fox, Local Radio and Television | October 8, 2002 | CNN, Fox, Breaking News

[Peach]

It's 6:30 a.m. EST and we're waiting to go to the second press conference providing media and local updates on the Maryland sniper shootings. To date, the 13 year old boy has survived the evening and seems to be improving. Fox News mentioned that his aunt is a nurse. The police briefing at 6:15 a.m. mentioned Todd Beamer's Let's Roll comment and police are urging people to use caution, good judgment, but remain strong and try to continue with everyday life as much as possible.

Police had a search warrant last night (didn't say for who or where) related to the sniper shootings, but the search did not provide any information to LEO.

[snooker]

Shooting from inside a van, with no windows and a silencer. Hide in plain sight. Driver in the front, shooter in the back. Build shooting bench out of sand bags, plywood and 2x4s. Line van with insulation from the local HD. Make ports for the bullet behind rotating plates in van walls. Really high tech stuff.

Now pay attention ...
Once the gun muzzle is behind the wall of the van, the sound is muffled. Add a silencer, and presto no signature outside the van. No noise, no smoke, no blast. No film at 11.

How many vans do you see on the road? And maybe it is a pickup with camper topper. Same suppresion approach, driver doesn't need ear protection either. Check all them too?

These people are pros.

I know silencers are illegal, but one thing the left wingnuts seem to forget, murder is against the law.

So if you want to do this, as a terrorist would, then there are plenty of ways without going to a local gun store and getting a prop gun.

And why do this, to TERRORIZE people don't you think? Remember the anthrax? caught them haven't we?

Didn't these terror guys just take down a couple of buildings? You think a van/pickup shooting platform and some gunsmithing tricks are beyond the realm? Please say you get it.

Once you leave the Moose behind and think like a terrorist, the real possibilites are out there.

And why go to the trouble to not get caught? To terrorize as long as possible, that's why. Nothing causes chills like a sniper killing people. Ask the military. What do you think special ops do? When the terrorists are done they can all go get their virgins, if there are any left.

snooker.

[dmz]

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Share with me where the second amendment even touches on the question of "printing" a bore or firing pin. You obviously have every right to object to this being done, but it ain't on the basis of the 2nd amendment.

Respectfully, I believe you are as guilty of reading things into the 2nd amendment as are the anti-guns.

{Flame suit ON}

[chuknospam]

"The firing pin indentation signature leads one then to speculate on the feds starting to "print" each and every firearm before it leaves the factory or dealer. Is that good or bad?

This topic was raised on Greta Van Susterens's program last night. That each fiearm purchase should be run threw the LE who fires 3 rounds and keeps the shells on record. I totally disagree with even HINTING at this procedure. The assumption is all gun owners are "Potential Criminals of America". There were 80 million (?) gun owners yesterday who didn't shoot anybody.

Catalog ballistic printing is a falicy of the worst kind. True, you can match a bullet & cartridge to a gun but to catalog thousands of rounds and expect to create a database is bunk. Guns are frequenty modified, chambers polished, bores lapped, firing pins polished etc. The likelyhood of of tracing a gun back to it's owner in this manner is near impossible. Just a waste of taxpayers money.

[Chemist_Geek]

Wearing bullet proof's is a crime for citizens in most places. Ever since that big bank mess in LA where they were in shoot-out conditions for hours due to criminals wearing kevlar, they banned it for the public. Gas masks too.

It depends. In Michigan, body armor is legal for non-felons to own and wear, if it's worn without illegal intent. If, however, one's caught committing a crime while wearing body armor then merely wearing it is a four year felony.

This does not mean that harassment won't occur. The Detroit PD will confiscate armor if they find it, say during a traffic stop and search, and the person will have to get a court order to get it back.

[Peach]

Are they certain about two shooters? And I thought yesterday they determined a shooter may have walked on the grass (flattened it). Not much to go by. No descriptions.

[harpseal]

Clearly we are all waiting for the next shot.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[oceanperch]

Regarding Oregon the Chiefs old job with Katz 6 arrested 2 still on the lam and a total of 8 sniped. Tit for Tat?

I think the sniping is done for now.

[katmom]

Any more word on shots fired at Rockville Metro? Not hearing anything on my radio.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Many gun owners would consider this a step towards creating a national data base that would eventually lead to "confiscation" and disarming of the public--which some would construe as "tyranny"

Sounds a little paranoic and tinfoilish to me, but whatever. As I said before it's less intrusive than other things already implemented. But, as a different posted pointed out it seems that it wouldn't work anyway because of wear changes.

[OReilly]

One of the few real updates given by moose... Truck backfire

[Marauder]

"Too many thieves" is true even in Texas anymore; while I was growing up, the farm and ranch hands would park downtown with rifles and shotguns in full view in the back window of their pickups, doors unlocked, and no one had to worry about theft.
Now one must carry a rifle behind the seat back in a standard cab, or under the flip seat of an extended cab; and of course lock the truck. Out of sight, out of temptation.
I even have an alarm system that doesn't make noise; it sends a signal to my beeper, giving me a chance to catch the mutts and kick some butt before I call the law.

[Peach]

I wrote my earlier comments about 340 yards being so far away and have accuracy. My husband corrected me when he got up this morning. Seems difficult to me, but to the avg. man with experience shooting rifles, I guess it's not.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Bingo.
But punishing the innocent is so much easier.

[CobaltBlue]

I think every serial killer causes terror, but is that the motivation?

I think they get a rush from killing, sort of like an orgasm.

I have heard hunters describe it that way. This guy is a hunter, he just hunts people.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Wearing bullet proof's is a crime for citizens in most places. Ever since that big bank mess in LA where they were in shoot-out conditions for hours due to criminals wearing kevlar, they banned it for the public. Gas masks too.

Now THIS is something that doesn't seem fair. The criminals re going to still be able to obtain these things and it precludes the law abiding citizen of being able to protect themselves.

[SLB]

Remember, time is on their side.

[katmom]

Thanks. Guess all nerves are on edge.

[blackdog]

The shots or skill involved here is relevent, but not key....The key is in the training on how to conduct this operation without detection. One of the reasons the shootings are so random is that the sites chosen are not! The sites were chosen well in advance. The victims are random because it is the site/schedule/exit that is the shooters advantage. For those of you claiming the shooter is no expert from years of training, fine. His or her tactics are.

[Chemist_Geek]

We should take all the media types who are hyperventilating about 100 yds. being "long-range shots" and send them to visit Camp Perry next summer.

Of course, then we'd never hear the end of it about so-called "sniper rifles"...

[sneakypete]

For instance, if they think these guys are in a van, with a driver and shooter, watch out for drivers with earplugs or muffs.

Not really. All the shooter has to do is stick the barrel out a partially opened window to eliminate most of the sound to him.

BTW,why is everybody still claiming he is shooting a rifle? Why not a .223 handgun,like a Thompson Contender or a Remington?