The DC Sniper Nest: None Dare Call it Terrorism

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

[SLB]

This will be one of those articles our enemies will try to pick apart in order to make the accusation that the author actually condones what is happening around the nation's capital. It's expected, since it's one of the few ways the left knows how to deal with such a dilemma. Fact is: There have been at least 11 shootings, with 5 confirmed fatalities so far in the Washington DC area. Since despite all the police chest pounding, they probably won't find a suspect by the time this is article is published, there will probably be more.

In our new War on Terrorism, none dare call it that. So let's call it what it really is - war, and deal with it on those terms.

This of course, will make the spin meisters even more upset, since nothing - absolutely nothing since September 11, 2001 will be called terrorism. Not the American Airlines flight over New York City a year ago, 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.

Meanwhile, the war continues.

If it hasn't dawned on you that this is an actual war in progress on our own soil (don't worry - it's not terrorism unless we tell you), take a look at the affect one lone sniper has had on the social infrastructure of the DC suburbs:

MARYLAND: Anne Arundel County Schools: . All schools locked . After-school activities canceled . After-school childcare will be provided . No evening high school classes . Indoor recess and activities

Baltimore City Schools: . No afternoon pre-kindergarten . No outdoor after-school athletic events; indoor events will be held

Calvert County Schools: . Students being kept inside schools . No after-school activities

Charles County Schools: . Heightened security . Students kept indoors . After-school activities canceled . Tuesday field trips canceled

Frederick County Schools: . Lockdown status . No students allowed outside

Howard County Schools: . Modified lockdown status . No afternoon kindergarten or special education . No outdoor recess or activities

Montgomery County Schools: . Code Blue status . No afternoon pre-k or kindergarten . Extra security in schools . All field trips canceled . Indoor recess and lunch . All after-school activities canceled

Prince George's County Schools: . Code Blue status . All outdoor activities canceled . Indoor recess and lunch . No outdoor after-school activities . No afternoon pre-kindergarten . All school doors monitored by security . Increased police presence in schools

Queen Anne's County Schools: . No after-school activities

DISTRICT: D.C. Schools: . No outdoor lunch or recess . No outdoor after-school activities . All field trips canceled

Archdiocese of Washington Schools: . No outdoor lunch or recess . No afternoon kindergarten or activities . Aftercare will be provided

VIRGINIA: Alexandria City Schools: . No outdoor recess or physical education classes . After-school activities canceled . Increased police presence for dismissals

Arlington County Schools: . All outdoor after-school activities canceled . Indoor after-school activities will be held

Caroline County Schools: . Outdoor activities canceled

Fairfax County Schools: . No outdoor activities

Falls Church City Schools: . Outdoor activities canceled . Police officers at each school

Fredericksburg City Schools: . Lockdown status . No after-school activities

King George County Schools: . Lockdown status

Loudoun County Schools: . Heightened state of alert . Outdoor activities at each principal's discretion

Manassas City Schools: . Limited lockdown status . No outdoor recess or activities

Prince William County Schools: . No outdoor after-school activities Monday or Tuesday

Spotsylvania County Schools: . Outdoor activities canceled

Stafford County Schools: . Outdoor activities canceled

Not bad for eleven rounds. Anyone want to take a guess how many of these students are children of federal employees? Now, let your brain spin. Here's a federal government planning for war, importing and exporting no goods on its western flank, and with a market in a steady freefall, and yet to even submit a budget this fiscal year. But none of that will be on their minds when they wake up - only: who's next?

Just like September 11 - brilliant war tactics. Then again, as any sniper can tell you, psychological terror is a bi-product of this time-tested, lethal art. The only thing America has going for it right now is that there is only one. Surely the profilers are trying to figure out some way of saying this lone gunman is some nut - some crazy white guy that gets a monthly high from reading Soldier of Fortune, probably hates the New World Order, and is of course, a believer in the Second Amendment, Turner Diaries, etc.. This profile (soon to come, I'm sure) will give some antigun nuts a second wind, attempting to get more gun legislation passed.

C'mon - you know this is coming, don't you?

Lest we forget that the state of Maryland already has some of the most draconian gun laws in the nation. And no gun law will slow down this sniper. In fact, only the opposite is true.

We're dealing with a professional, someone who is becoming pretty good at one shot - one kill. This person is not firing several shots at random, and is deadly accurate. Our shooter knows how to take the shot, then relocate. Some amateur could not be this skilled working behind enemy lines, if you will and, knowing there is a dragnet out there, still hit his mark at least 10 times. According to authorities, there is no common pattern with the victims that are being chosen. So if we said the only thing the victims do have in common is that none are Muslim, that would be a stretch, wouldn't it?

If what many people fear turns out to be the case ("sniper jihad"), catching this critter may be difficult, and a few more may have to die to get a bead on this SOB. Not being a sniper expert, I'd say it will take all we have inside us if and when the next round is fired. But I recall something about hitting the ground, and get a good look in the direction where you heard the sound. If it were a war zone, the next line would be lay down cover fire, and fire teams should keep their 'field of fire' in mind, but we don't want to turn the Washington Suburbs into Washington, DC, now would we?

Our little sniper is operating in an enemy environment, but he is also operating in a relatively 'safe' environment. You see, the fact that we really are at war is a concept too many people haven't taken seriously yet, especially in east coast, antigun bastions such as suburban DC. Hence, only time will tell when suddenly concealed carry laws are lifted (or simply not enforced), so that the soldiers in this new war (the citizens), may have the means of neuturalizing such threats upon discovery.

Go ahead. Call me extreme. But attending all those funerals will get old real fast. Legislators can pass all the laws they want, but no police chief or sheriff wants to spend the rest of is time in office counting innocent bodies. I'd suggest the local police make a few inquires to the Pentagon on how to deal with this problem, not the FBI or ATF. No, I'm not calling for military intervention, but gathering background information on someone that clearly has a military background.

To put it bluntly, we've have a region of the country on the verge of societal shut down. The pundits prefer calling this a lone nut than dealing with the obvious.

This person is not a 'right-wing' lunatic. This person is not a terrorist. This is a solider - waging war on our own soil.

[Eva]

If they admitted that this was a terrorist attack, they would have to explain why Tom Daschle has been holding the Homeland security bill hostage in the Senate.

[taxcontrol]

I concur - understand that I have received military "sniper training"

The reasons I concur:

.223 is a weak round. It is easily deflected by any brush and designed to wound - not kill. Of course, that might be the idea. You have already mentioned it's poor ballistics.

Most shots were taken at 100 yards or less and the person has a poor kill %. A military trained sniper is considered "acceptable" if they can hold 1 MOA. A MOA is a measure of angle. The smaller the MOA, the tighter the shot group.

Roughly speaking, 1 MOA means 1" at 100 yards and 3" at 300 yards. A military sniper should be able to hold this level of performance out to about 600 yards. At my best, I could hold about 7" at 600 yards - there were MANY MANY others FAR better than I who could do much better. In short, a sniper at 100 yards should be able to target the eye of a stationary target and hit it with very HIGH percentage.

All of the shots were to the chest. A sniper looking to kill with one shot would not target an area as large as the chest. It is too easy to miss anything vital. I would point out that targeting "center of mass" is a common military training but is NOT common to snipers.

Just a few points to consider

[fuente]

Not likely with a .223. A real sniper would probaby use something like a .308 or 7mm mag or larger. I'd rather use a 30-06 or .300 mag. Maybe even something as big as a .336 mag for long range ballistics. Also a reworked trigger, tripod, and nice Leopold. Cost $500. With this, an average amateur could bring down a person easily at 100 yds., a real sniper wouldn't miss. No this guy is a rank amateur that understands the one shot rule (Red Dawn).

[antidisestablishment]

This is a solider - waging war on our own soil.

Bullsh!t!

Soldiers don't kill women and children. Any suggestion that this cowardly crap is soldiering degrades meaning of the word and insults every good person who has put on a uniform for their country. Soldiers kill military targets, not civilians.

I often agree with JJ, but he lost it here. If he was trying to say the military may be needed to take out this trash, that's fine. But there is no semblance of honor in what this terrorist has done.

[joebuck]

"In that case, the selection of .223 is idiotic and the guy is not a "pro". Wind drift on .223 starts getting sketchy around 300m. No sniper with military training *chooses* .223."

Not necessarily so. If this guy(s) is a pro then he would want a weapon as absolutely sterile and untracable as possible. Perhaps this .223 was the "coldest" weapon that he could obtain which could still do the job he had in mind.

[clamper1797]

My 7mm Mag would be just fine at the range ... as would a .308 Mag

[johnny7]

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

It's an excellent varmint rifle. Low retort, long-distance and light.

With a good shooter, it's fine for what he's doing.

[monday]

"I thought that the first Greyhound attacker (almost a year ago) was an Albanian Muslim...."

Croatian Muslim.

[DuncanWaring]

Maybe even something as big as a .336 mag for long range ballistics. Also a reworked trigger, tripod, and nice Leopold. Cost $500.

If ".336" is your only typo, please tell me where I can get a .338 mag with reworked trigger, tripod and nice Leopold for $500.

[Sonar5]

Since some inquired about the possible range of a rifle.

There is a lot of talk about whether this criminal or terrorist is using a scope. Who Knows. I state he/she/it does not need a scope.

As a Marine, I trained for two weeks in boot camp, and a week every year with an M16 A-1 and later an A-2 at 200 meters, 300 meters, and 500 meters(Greater than 5 football fields). This was without any scope, and if someone is trained, they know all about windage and elevation adjustments on the rifle. Even an AR-15 Civilian "Home Defense Rifle". If the person is trained, she/he/it can adjust for current wind directions by calling the nearest airport reporting station, and then adjusting his sites, based on wind direction and speed.

At 500 Meters, (Greater than 5 football fields), After 4 days training, You don't need a scope. All you need is the prone position, a breathing technique such as BRASS. (Breathe, Relax, Aim, Stop, Squeeze, bullseye sir.. Oops, it's all coming back to me now. ), and a sling for balance.

The person no doubt has zeroed his/her/it's weapon, only needing wind direction and approx wind speed speed to add clicks for distance. A simple Golf range finder will give approx distance as well.

I qualified expert all 4 times on the range and at 500 meters, We use a full size sillhouette, and I never missed. Stationary targets are the easiest. Logical pattern here.

The hardest was standing, but at kneeling, and prone, most can hit where they are aiming if they understand windage and elevation. It is not that difficult folks.

I hope they catch this miscreant soon, as the copycats are sure to show their ugly heads if they have not already.

As to concealed carry. I say this. What if someone concealing was not in the vicinity of the victim but was walking their dog near one of the parks, and observed or heard the shot. Not unrealistic, and possible. Maybe that is why the shooter chose an area which is not conceal legal. Just a differing viewpoint for those that stated it would not be feasable if the carrier was near the victim. They may not even hear the shot, or be able to determine the origin. But someone near the shooter would. Eventually, this shooter will error.

Here is a list of laws for states on Guns showing conceal carry approved and reciprocity agreements.

Map of states that allow.
http://www.concealcarry.org/ccwmap.htm

Go to site, choose state, and current laws come up.
http://www.packing.org/

Here are Maryland's:
http://www.packing.org/state/index.jsp/maryland

You pretty much have to be a LEO to carry. Convenient for Murders, catastrophic to law abiding citizens.

One more note:

Chicago has a NO Hand Gun Law.
Chicago is the Murder Capital of The United States.

I rest my case.

Regards,
Joe

[Joe Brower]

Interesting thread. Looks like all the folks here have the various aspects of this just about covered.

As Travis points out, a TC Contender in .223 would be optimal for all the work that that been done so far by the perpetrators. Remove from backpack, shoot, toss back into pack, bicycle away. From a vehicle, even easier.

As harpseal has mentioned elsewhere, the manner in which the perps have eluded law enforcement so utterly and completely so far is the single most powerful indicator of terrorists. They have the equipment, the training, the skills, the planning, the field support and the mindset, as so far quite capably demonstrated.

As Squantos has pointed out, the casings found by LE so far could have readily be souveniered off of a rifle range and left for the law to find as a red herring. Very easy to do and a very effective countermeasure.

I have little doubt that the perps chose this particular AO in large part due to the heavily disarmed nature of the populace. If such events were to happen here in Florida, the terrorists, although likely prepared to die, would be severely shortening their operational lifetime if they chose this area for their crimes. Where they are now, it's like shooting ducks in a pond.

As for stumbling on the shooter as he/she's about to fire and engaging with a handgun. It's doable, if one was to be so incredibly lucky. Get as close as possible without being detected, seek cover, call on cellfone to notify police and give location, and see what happens after that. If you deign to take a shot or two at the perp, you know they will very likely engage you. And when the law shows up, be prepared to be treated like the bad guy. If you can nail the goblin and disappear without notifying the authorities, engagement would be more of an option. You would still be putting yourself at extreme personal risk from both sides of the equation by doing so.

I must add that it's pretty apparent that the powers-that-be don't want to mention the terrorism aspect of this because they simply don't want to cause a panic. The herd is obviously already pretty spooked. The authorities have worked hard and long over many decades to breed a docile, defenseless and obedient population of sheeple, and they don't want these events to spoil it now. Reminds me of that curse about "be care what you wish for"...

Stay safe, everyone.

[taxed2death]

Pretty good article except for one omission....the fact that thousands are crossing our unprotected borders every day.

No point in calling it a war untill GWB gets real.

[MHGinTN]

It is also readily available for sale in the US in several forms and can be broken down for transport in small containerization then assembled and expected to perform adequately. We don't know yet if this is a soldier of Islamism, an Islamacist terrorist, or just a nutcase. My money is on more than one but using the same weapon. [The shots so far do not require extensive training, just practice in some remote area like a rock quarry or sand pit. Oregon Muslim friends, anyone?

[monday]

"It's an excellent varmint rifle. Low retort, long-distance and light. With a good shooter, it's fine for what he's doing."

I agree. I think many of us are jumping to the conclusion that his primary aim is to kill people. It could be that he is satisfied to simply shoot them and doesn't really care if they die or not.

[Minnesoootan]

Has there been any reports of a report? or is this "person" using a silencer?

I haven't had time to read all the articles on this and only saw one police press conference.

My speculation on this is it's more than one "person",and they are working together.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Totally agree,.. if decent hard working Americans were allowed their second ammendment rights UNFETTERED, this guy chances of continueing this act of TERRORISM would be stopped sooner. IMHO

[30-06 Springfield]

FreeTally - How many snipers operate freely in Israel, not the occupied parts of the West Bank, but in downtown Tel Aviv. Israeli citizens have one of the highest rates of firearms possession in the world. What happens when Ahab the Arab pulls out his trusty AK? Your friendly neighborhood rabi blows him away and Ahab knows that. Therefore, the only snipers you see are where they can be halfway protected by others such as the Hezbollah.

AdamSelene235 - You claim a .223 is the wrong cartridge for that purpose. Tell that to the families of the dead! It might not be the ideal (30-06 obviously would be a better choice and there are many cartridges that would be even better), but for what this madman is doing .223 has fit the bill exactly. Low signature, low recoil, probably a very light weaponof some type with some fairly decent optics on it and against a light skinned target it works fine. It might be a little on the smallish side for deer sized targets, but humans are much more frail and therefore easier to kill than deer.

[dixierat22]

Being somewhat familiar with this (I've been following the news on it) and familiar with military trained snipers (my brother was a Delta Force sniper and I was in the Rangers, but not a trained sniper myself), I think the shooter(s) have made some mistakes and will, eventually be caught.

According to reports on ABC TV this AM, the shooter(s) are using a .223. That's weak. Most snipers would use a bolt action .308 or bigger. That the cops found shell casings indicates that the shooter(s) are using a semi auto or are stupid as rocks.

ALL of their targets have been either Old men, women, or children. That indicates that the shooter(s) are coward(s).

I tend to agree with you on the terrorist idea, as the above mentioned evidence is a strong indication.

If the shooter(s) are terrorist, and the shooter(s) are from Saudi Arabia, as were most of the 9/11 perps, I would suggest that we forget invading Iraq, and go for Saudi Arabia instead.

[wardaddy]

223 due to its poor ballistics and mediocre wounding ability.

There are a lot of dead VC and NVA and whitetail deer and coyotes not to mention these poor victims who might choose to argue that point. Plus, the 5.56 in Nam was FMJ and not hollow point or some other frag prone round like this shooter is using.....although the old Nam rounds supposedly like to tumble.

[Sender]

I can't believe you guys are having a deep discussion about what caliber this shooter would choose. Obviously the .223 was a pretty good choice from the shooters point of view since he's not missing and the victims are missing large chunks of their anatomy. I daresay the score wouldn't be much different if he chose a large magnum or whatever. Doesn't matter. People are terrified. He got away.