The DC Sniper Nest: None Dare Call it Terrorism

Sierra Times ^ | Oct 7, 02 | Analysis by J.J. Johnson

[duk]

the news said the 13 year old was hit mid-section but the round did not exit. At what distance would this most likely indicate?

[Zathras]

Bingo!
If it walks like a duck...

[Squantos]

Good point...... I'd say one more thing to anyone who stumbles upon "the" sniper. Seek cover, look for his security, Cell Call if ya can safely and engage if your 100% sure . Sadly that wait or indecision may allow them to escape but the valuable information you provide might just save the next target and collect a nice reward anyway.........I know it's not about the money :o)

Stay Safe , Armed and CYA SLB !!

[John H K]

How, pray tell, do you get the several million of these undoubtedly expensive devices required to cover the several hundred square miles of the DC Metro Area? Even if you're just trying to cover all the craft stores, gas stations, and schools?

[suijuris]

The author's heart is in the right place, but is silly to say that anti-concealed weapon laws make it any less safe for people in this specific situation where you have a sniper gunning down people from long range.

Only a fool would try to take on a rifle with a handgun at long range; but you overlook the fact that some determined citizen may actually witness the sniper; possibly be nearby as the sniper attempts to leave the scene; and take him out. Sui

[Travis McGee]

I think the govt of MD will foolishly try to tighten, not relax, gun laws in response to this sniper.

[texson66]

Your point is well taken for a victim, but an armed citizenry would be in the vicinity to react FORCEFULLY!

[Snidely Whiplash]

Interesting analysis.

Was listening to Roger Hedgecock yammer on earlier about this being a terrorist act, when to me it doesn't really fit the general profile of terrorism, as opposed to one loon out there shooting at people.

Yeah, the shooter is inducing terror, but it's unlikely that that is his(?) goal as such. It's far more likely that the shooter is just plain freaking nuts, along the lines of that guy who shot up the US Capitol some years back.

It seems that whenever bona-fide terrorists strike, they do it in areas where there are gonna be lots of people, to maximize the death and destruction caused - airports (or airplanes), shopping centers, office buildings, and suchlike. This individual is shooting at single targets, one at a time. Were he interested in killing many at once, it doesn't appear that it would take a lot of extra effort on his part.

Then there's also the fact that terrorist attacks are discrete events - that is, each one is its own entity, without regard to whether similar attacks precede or follow.

Regards,
Snidely

[Travis McGee]

A professional sniper would not choose a .223 due to its poor ballistics and mediocre wounding ability.

Clueless.

[freddy]

See post #28

Proven fact that when the BAD guys want to do bad things, they pick a GUN FREE ZONE...!!!

That is exactly what the area of all the shootings is...A gun free zone...

They do NOT pick an area where it is known to them that people may be carrying protection(GUNs)

[Dixie republican]

What about a handgun under the shirt of a person near the shooter???

[MHGinTN]

The shell casing for the last shot on the teen was found at 200 yards. A professionally trained shooter wouldn't leave the casings, unless the 'professional' training was from a terrorist camp. The trickle of information allowed is a typical terrorist tactic, without taking public credit for the kills.

[Dixie republican]

A sniper with Quaeda military training will use anything that works.

[Rifleman]

Hell, I can ring a seven inch gong about 2 of 3 times with a .22 pistol at 100 yards from a prone possition or a rest. And I have 50 year old eyes and am only an ok shooter. A ccw holder could take a rest and timed fire a magazine full at this killer out to maybe 150 to 200 yards and have a good chance of hitting him. Then he would be wounded and much easier to find.

Not to mention those of us with "Easy Rider Rifle Racks" in our vehicles. I suppose that that is verboten in Maryland and Virginia, though.

[Labyrinthos]

...not the string of oil refinery explosions, unexplained train derailments, not the nutcases attacking Greyhound bus drivers, and heaven forbid - that Anthrax thing was an anomaly, just like the West Nile Virus and the new cases of malaria popping up in the same area of the shooting. Just individual crazed lunatics mind you, not terrorism.

Could be terrorism. Could also be "shark attack syndrome." In case anyone has forgotten, "shark attack syndrome" is when the media reports every shark attack, thereby suggesting that the number of attacks is rising, when in fact, the number of attacks is statistically the same as previous years. Do we know, for example, whether more oil refinery fires and train derailments have occurred in the last year than during the prior years or have they just been reported more or are we just paying better attention to the reports? How many Greyhound bus drivers have been attacked in the last year as compared to previous years? What is the frequency of malaria in the outbreak areas? And while the West Nile Virus outbreak seems suspicious, it has been around my state for at least two years now and the number of human victims pales compared to your basic influenza outbreak.

Don't get me wrong. I love to speculate as much as the next Freeper, but lets not ignore statistical reason in the process.

[Route66]

Thanks very much for posting this. If it's been posted before, I had not read it.

It does seem that those in charge of this investigation are having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that this is not a garden variety criminal. Whoever this person or persons are - war is being waged on the people of that area. Help from those best experienced in war would be appropriate here.

[cardinal4]

it is well worth the read.

Indeed it is. I came to the authors conclusion on day 3....

[Stefan Stackhouse]

If he's a soldier, he had better be wearing a uniform and be able to provide name, rank, and serial number when he finally is caught (if should unfortunately happen to be caught alive, that is). Otherwise, a very quick trip in front of a firing squad is in order.

[Travis McGee]

You are SO wrong about .223 for an URBAN sniper.

/1/ Flat shooting, easy and fast to sight and hit at his max ranges (under 400 yards).

/2/ In HP, a devastating round, if you think not, you have not seen any wounds caused by a 3,000fps varmint rifle.

/3/ Muzzle blast is MUCH less than .308 etc, for better getaway. Also, MUCH easier to suppress, either with a pro or homemade can suppressor, or by using a van etc as a macro suppressor.

/4/ Don't rule out a rifle caliber pistol such as a Contender, which can and do shoot 3" groups at 500 yards in good hands from a rest. Even an amateur with a Contender and an 8X scope could hit 18" human targets at 300 yards using an open car window as a rest. Piece of cake, 19 out of 20 boy scouts could shoot that well after 20 practice shots.

[Mr. Mojo]

Remember, these are supposedly fanatical suicidal terrorists? How does the fear of citizens with concealed handgun affect an Al Queda sniper?

An Al Qaeda sniper would aim to kill as many Americans as possible before his own death. If he were to choose an area of of relaxed CCW laws, he might not kill nearly as many before he's caught (or killed) as he would in a strict gun control area (like Maryland).