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.

[blackdog]

Operative phrase...."Doesn't seem fair" Where to go with that is endless. Given my druthers, I'd wear Kevlar on opening day of deer season, when calling turkeys, when at the mall, entering any establishment that serves alchohol, and visiting the post office. As for the gas masks being outlawed, by the time you realize you need it it's too late. They are highly unfashionable, and make picking up chicks a real challange. When you do pick up chicks when you are wearing your gas mask, they are either habitual protesters or really into kinky stuff. Better to leave it at home.

[OReilly]

I might point out that the questions provide more information than listening to Moose.

I was so 'wrapped' trying to get my message posted, I missed a very important question that was very clear but I had mentally tuned it out for a minute.

What did the guy ask that propmted Moose to say, 'I will have to talk to you after the conference because I don't know where you are going with the question.'

[browardchad]

How soon after that did the sniper shootings start in Chief Mooses area back east?

The shootings started on Wednesday evening (the window shot at Michael's, the murder in the supermarket parking lot), followed by the four murders on Thursday morning, all in Montgomery County.

The DOJ arrested the Oregon cell members on Friday morning, and held a press conference to announce it on Friday afternoon, so that puts the cart before the horse for your theory; although it is a bizarre coincidence that Moose is the former Portland police chief.

[Peach]

Good points, Abogado. I've been surprised that satellite technology hasn't been used (to our knowledge). Thought they could read a license plate from the sky. Don't know how wide an area the technology can scan.

[Elenya]

My theory is one driver and one shooter riding around in an inconspicuous minivan, based wholly on last Thursday's shootings.

The fact that the last 2 victims weren't fatally wounded seems to indicate that it's now a different shooter in a 2 men team: the one doing the driving for the first shootings is now doing the shootings himself while the other one drives. And he isn't as well trained as the other one.

If that's the case, I assume it must be very frustrating for this second shooter and he'll want to continue until he gets a "perfect" shot. This might be a potential source of conflict with the other shooter who might want to cool it for a while.... Just a thought...

[Polybius]

"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.

The media has already branded all gun owners as "Potential Criminals of America".

It is the sniper, not the rifle, that is committing these murders. Now, let's imagine that the rifle is magically turned into a living, breathing, NRA membership-card-carrying, loyal American citizen by America's guardian angel for one hour.

What would the rifle do with his one hour of life as an American citizen?

The rifle would pick up the phone, call the Tips Hotline and turn in the murderer.

Would the rifle be a turning in a member of his own family? Yes. Just as the Unabomber's own brother turned in a murdering member of his own family. If you are going around murdering people, you deserve to get turned in. Even if it's by your own mother.

Why do we rightly criticize many Muslims in this country after 9/11? It is because their main concern is, "How dare the rest of America feel suspicious about us" instead of "What can we do to expose the terrorists that hide amongst us".

If this technology helps us enlist the help of the gun to separate the murderes amongst us from the vast majority of law abiding gun owners, that is good for everybody except the murderer.

[roses of sharon]

Sorry for my ignorance on the subject, but what did the training manuals in Afganastan say? Is this their M.O.?

[iconoclast]

Good analysis. I agree with you on almost all points.

Two significant points of disagreement ... I think it's probably one person in a commercial van (although Columbine showed us that nuts can occur in pairs), and I do not think it's Arabs.

[two23]

"Sounds a little paranoic and tinfoilish to me, but whatever

Read the U.N. plans to disarm all civilians....open your eyes to the leftist agenda

[MrNeutron1962]

"What would the downside be?"

1) Firearms get sold or stolen...a stolen weapon could be used in a crime.

Yes, and then some of our socialist paradise states can then enact laws making the registered owner of the firearm used to perpetrate a crime civilly liable for not ‘Controlling the Weapon’ or some other such nonsense.

4) There may be some question about use of firearm changing the "imprint"---metal changes from use and wear.

It can also be easily modified to give a different pattern, but anyone with machinist skills. This was driven home to me as a teenager, when a fellow trade school student, built his own 0.22 revolver with only the basic machine tools in his fathers basement. The damn thing worked pretty good too, I can just imagine what someone with 20 years experience as a die maker could produce.

[OReilly]

I think it's probably one person in a commercial van

Reduced likelihood of apprehension...

[antidisestablishment]

I believe you are two Amendments off:

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

[GirlNextDoor]

I think all these shots are being taken on the ground,and this one was farther then the rest.

Then how is he getting the gun to and from his vehicle? I'm imagining at this point anyone spotting a guy/guys carrying anything remotely similar to a rifle would alert authorities.

[CobaltBlue]

I don't think it's Arabs, either.

I know a lot of people who can shoot like that. They are all hunters. They hunt deer, moose, elk, bear. They love to hunt.

[oceanperch]

Thanks for the info.

[OldEagle]

The downside obviously would be that the system at best could only identify those weapons which had been tested. If it were to start today, do you have any idea how many untested firearms already exist in the world?

[Peach]

Great pic(s). Certainly doesn't instill confidence, does it? Guy will be caught when someone sees something or guy makes a mistake.

[blackdog]

Thank god someone sees this too. The greater good out of this is immeasurable in the eyes of the media, state and federal government, United Nations, and so on. It is just very unpopular right now to mention it around here. These shootings will lead to gun confiscation and hence save millions of lives. The area chosen is vital to legislation being passed as well. Every day people from the area go to work they will be asking their fellow government employees to hound lawmakers to "do something" about the problem. If people in Iowa are victims, they are so just out of geographical preference and it won't even make the news in DC.

[harpseal]

Regarding your presumptions on the anthrax incident do you have any evidence that it was a home grown American incident. The anthrax powder used was kept from clumping with an agent known to be used by the Iraqi weapons program. The first letter was mailed before 9/11 to the publisher in Florida ( this is not totally established but may be considered factual due to incubation periods.) There are reports of Mohammed Atta having some sores consitent with cutaneous anthrax for which he recieved Cipro.

All of the above clearly point to some source that was not home grown. the most significant contraindication is that the anthrax killer needed to have his spores ready and waiting to disperse on Sept 11 or 12 just to get them out to the National Enquierer. There was no statement about the letters containing anthrax at the National enquierer.

While it is possible that it could be either home grown or foreign terrorist sourced I for one would agrue most strongly against citing the anthrax attacks as an example f domesticly sourced terrorism. At least wait until someone is formally charged by the authorities.

[two23]

Post #172 covers it for me!