BBC Message Board - DC/MD/VA residents share fear of sniper (FREEP THIS BOARD)

BBC ^ | 10/10/2002 | various

[ARCADIA]

These are messages posted on the BBC website by residents of DC/VA/MD sharing their fears.

This is the terrorism I truly fear. Robert del Valle, USA

Originally we did not feel like explaining the sniper situation to our just-turned five-year-old son, so we told him the reason he had no recess was the threat of Hurricane Lili. This proved to be short-lived when the next day he announced "It's not because of a hurricane. It's because there are bad guys hiding in the trees trying to shoot us." How utterly depressing.

Frank, US

I live very close to where the first shootings took place. My children have been in lockdown at school for a week now. The only thing my husband and I do differently is take our children to school instead of let them walk. I am wary, but not afraid. One thing for sure, I will never hear of this type of violence in other places and dismiss it as "far away". I guess I thought we were immune, here in the suburbs.

Dona, Maryland, USA

I live in New Jersey, no one is panicking, though it is a subject of lunchtime debate. America is full of contradictions. The authorities say take the drug dealers off the streets and the drug problem will diminish. When it is suggested that the guns be taken out of the public hands, screams of outrage go up from the kill-it-if-moves fringe. Hardly one of them can accurately quote the constitutional amendment they say gives them the right to be an army of one.

Peter Nixon, England/USA

Any time I'm standing still in a public place it's in the back of my mind that I'm a potential target. It's incredible how little connection is made here between the relative availability of guns and the general level of violent crime in our culture.

David Robinson, USA/Washington, DC

I have always loved living in Washington DC and raising my children here. When I get nervous, I think about Israelis who constantly have to look over their shoulders for suicide bombers - and yet go on with their with their daily lives.

Judy, USA/DC

I live in Virginia not far from Manassas where the latest victim was killed. I do not see signs of panic, although, judging by casual conversations, people are concerned. It seems that the assassin is a former military sniper who lost his marbles. Eventually he will be caught, but in the meantime he is doing a lot of damage.

Mkondrac, USA

Please do not let this fanatic wreak havoc in your lives. I grew up in a violent society where mercenaries were paid $10 for every man they killed in a state sponsored violence. I have been shot at a dozen times. I have witnessed people being shot and killed in front of me but I was never afraid. I hope and pray that this trigger happy monster is arrested soon.

Frank, South Africa

I have just returned from a fact finding mission in Gaza, and having had guns trained on me by IDF soldiers and a bullet whistle past me, I know how it feels to be hunted. I sympathise with people of the US and hope they catch this monster, but please remember that an innocent Palestinian farmer cut down in his fields by violent settlers is no less a crime.

Stuart Robson, UK

I haven't gone jogging, haven't gone shopping and I almost run from my car to the apartment. Last weekend was the first time that I've seen my apartment complex's parking lot full. No-one is leaving their homes. This guy/gal has Maryland, Virginia, and DC totally freaked out.

Joe, USA, Maryland

I am a graduate student at Howard University in DC. Some students who live in Baltimore have been afraid to drive in for classes. I'm not afraid in the day except for fleeting moments (I calm myself by remembering the low probability of my being or knowing a future victim) but at night I dream of a gunman pursuing me. Many students in my classes are angry that so much attention is being paid to these killings when murders in poor, black neighbourhoods usually get slim to no media coverage. It seems like this series of murders is getting a lot of media play because it's a good story, like an exciting film, police TV programme, or murder mystery novel. I notice myself getting caught up in that kind of ghoulish interest too.

Ruth Wielgosz, USA

I am an 18-year-old student in the suburbs of DC, and live close to the petrol station someone was shot at today. It seems unreal that so many strangers are dying around you. Though they're strangers, they're part of the community and you can't help regret the loss and fear the next one.

Israel, USA

I live 10 miles from the shootings in Maryland. I continue to go about every day as any other day. My children go to school like any other day. We had a friend on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. We lived through 9/11. We trust and believe in God. We live our lives. We pray for peace in the world and our little corner of it.

Cheryl Ruiz, Maryland, USA

Living only a few miles from the scene of the latest shooting, I find myself more aware of my surroundings now. I take a moment to look around before exiting my vehicle, but I don't live in fear. Undoubtedly, this person will strike again and again, leading to their capture or killing. This killer is leaving behind clues. He will be caught.

Ben, USA

Being an expatriate Brit living in Silver Spring, MD it's been unnerving in the extreme. One feels like a deer wandering in the forest, with a hunter able to strike on a whim. My two-year-old son is luckily locked-down in pre-school, but many other stay at home parents dare not even go to the parks, as the unease is too great.

Adam Sandman, Maryland, USA

The area where the five people were killed on 3 October is within two kms of the home I grew up in and the continuing residence of my elderly parents. Three of the first five deaths were all within one kilometre of that home. I have a number of siblings, nieces, and nephews still residing in the area. My greatest fear is that someone I know will be the next victim, or worse, the culprit.

Greg Beattie, USA

I live only five blocks north of the Shell gas station in Kensington where the woman was killed last week. We moved from DC into the suburbs because we thought it was safer. Kensington is so quiet that nothing ever happens there but now we are terrified. Every day routine tasks like filling gas have become high stress situations.

Amit Tonse, USA

I am a high school student in Montgomery County. Like this article mentioned, our school has been on lockdown for a few days now. Sports teams can only practice inside after school and we are not allowed to have open lunch anymore. So many students usually eat lunch outside that our cafeteria can't handle feeding us all at one time, so the administrators have created a new lunch 'A' and 'B'. I wonder how long schools here will continue operating this way. What if this guy is never caught?

Natalia Fisher, Maryland, USA

I live in Annapolis, Maryland and work about eight miles from the site of the school shooting in Bowie. I have a 12-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter. While we have not changed the pattern of our lives, it is disconcerting to know that this person will act again and that this time it could be me or my own. While we all recognise that death can take us at any moment, this has somehow brought that into focus. I am reminded of the lives led by those in Sarajevo during the long siege.

Bruce Empey, USA

Washington is, indeed, in panic mode. Everyone is talking about the sniper and it's starting to have a negative impact on the way people live. It's a dreadful way to live and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Eric, Washington, DC, USA

The White Flint location is two minutes from my house. We shop at many of those places in the White Flint Mall and Aspen Hill. As if the other killings weren't enough, the recent shooting of the boy going to school is a complete outrage. I was afraid last week but after yesterday, I am more angry than I am afraid. The person/s responsible for this latest wave of fear could not possibly be human when you deliberately target a defenceless child.

Juliette Flores, USA

I live in the suburbs of DC, and this is terrifying. The killings are so completely random. In a way, it's more frightening than the terrorist attacks of last year, just because there doesn't seem to be a pattern or motive.

Jennifer, USA

Filling petrol the other day I took a sharp look around and got into the car while it filled up. From the parking lot of a bookstore I hurried inside changing the direction of walk frequently. The gunmen, skilful and cold, has unleashed a terror few can escape fearing. Our lives are again disrupted with children¿s activities cancellations, fear of walking outdoors, calls enquiring about our safety and becoming keenly aware of our surroundings. It is an anomaly that in developed nations such people are left unchecked.

Vijay Nair, USA

I have three kids in three separate schools and yesterday afternoon and again this morning I stood alongside their bus stops waiting, for what? Safety in numbers? Reassurance? No, just love. I refuse to be afraid. I refuse to let anyone interrupt my kids growing up. I will be an active parent and I will do my very best to protect them but I will not be afraid. I am angry. I am sad. I will vote against guns. Every time.

Jan Cordani, USA/ Maryland

I live in Northern Virginia about 30 minutes away from most of these shootings, and I work in downtown Washington. The fact that there's no clear pattern to these killings frightens me. I'm now very careful when I walk places, and I try to avoid white unmarked vans as much as possible. This is definitely terrorism.

Erin, USA

It isn't just Maryland. We live in Fredericksburg VA where the seventh shooting took place. I'm very scared. Even going to the end of the driveway to get the mail is an frightening experience. You scan the woods around you wondering if the shot will come.

Diana, USA

I have lived in Montgomery County for four years. The five shootings on Thursday happened within 10km of my home. It is scary to have a sniper shooting where I purchase gas, groceries, and craft supplies. My husband and I are nervous about getting gas. I am constantly looking around in the woods or bushes to see if I spot anything unusual. This is very unsettling.

Alice Sobsey, USA

[ARCADIA]

Perhaps this site needs freeping. I don't think the British are getting the opinion of a cross section of the population.

[Billthedrill]

I'm scared too. I'm scared some liberal whackjob is going to use this to institute an idiotic British-style gun confiscation program.

Think that'd go over at the BBC?

[ARCADIA]

It always amazes how easily some people are willing to give up their freedoms. Their ancestors may have fought battles and put their lives and welfare on the line, but these guys would give it all up if a shot is fired within 50 miles of them.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Frankly, I think half the posts on there are fake. DC area residents just don't talk in "kilometres" and "petrol".

[Michael2001]

This has been close to home. I look forward to when they catch this sicko.

[cmsgop]

LOL!

[KeyLargo]

Anyone recall the scene from the movie "THE JERK" [A sniper keeps missing Navin and hitting cans of motor oil.]
Navin R. Johnson: He hates these cans! Stay away from the cans! It's a funny movie but no so funny scene now.

[Capriole]

Here is the comment I just posted to the BBC board. It will be interesting to see if it appears and if so in what form. They do say they "reserve the right to edit" our postings.

I wrote,

I am a lady living in the same town as one of the victims. I shop on the same streets where the sniper has been active and bought my car at the dealership where one of the victims was killed; I was on my way in to have it serviced when this took place. My children and I have not changed our lives in any way as a result of these attacks. After all, there are 1,000,000 people in our county, and six of them have been shot, so one's odds of remaining safe are pretty good. I have contempt for the whining cowards who are huddling at home in fear. Everything is not about them.

Gee I hate it when men are more cowardly than I am, when I'm a chick.

[BiffSchneider]

The "petrol" users were probably from India and some other unknown country, Argentina or Spain perhaps. The KMer is probably Canadian, OZ, etc.

[ottersnot]

Yeah, at lot of these look fake. It just seems odd this many DC folks would frequent the BBC site. As a gun owner and enthusiast (NOT NUT) I share the fear that these kinds of polls are part of the neverending 24/7 liberal attack on my constitutional rights. Funny how they love to tear down the law. Big NRA bump is in order. I live in Northern Virginia. You can bet I am more vigilant, but I would not say scared. My heart goes out to the friends and families of the victims that have been crushed by this psycho.

One of the local news channels ran a 'gun nut' piece the other night. I wanted to vomit. How callous to seek political advantage when people have been killed.

[poppyseed]

I live roughly five miles from the Manassas shooting and was at that gas station with my three year-old daughter and four year-old son forty-five minutes before the shooting.

Quite a few of the quotes I read up there in the article ring quite true for me. No, I'm not barricading myself in my home - though right now I wouldn't mind doing so - but I'm nervous when I stop for gas. I won't go to Michael's. My children are with their father tonight and I elected to go to the grocery store while they're gone, not because it's a pain in the neck to schlep them around the store, but because if I'm gonna get shot, I'd prefer it not happen in front of the kids. Or heaven forbid I be standing there when one of my babies gets picked off. The fear is at the front of many minds and does affect daily activities.

Part of the fright, as you might imagine, is the awful randomness of the killings, and the lack of credible information about who is perpetrating these killings. Do you glance at all white vans suspiciously and make note of the license plates? I have been. Do you worry about going to the ATM? I do. These murders are of a sort that it's hard to dodge: even if I'm cautious and even armed, there's not much I can do about some hidden guy picking me off from 150 yards.

I can't believe I'm the only person in this area who feels as threatened as I do. When mundane, routine activities have a pall of fear on them. It is not the American way - at least, not the way of most Americans, and for this we're very fortunate - to seriously and frequently wonder when you kiss your kids goodbye in the morning if it's the last time you'll see them. And yet, that is what many Americans in this area are dealing with right now. It is neither silly nor unfounded to be afraid, nor do I believe that the fear is overstated by even the most ridiculous of newsmedia outlets.

I know that I stand a greater chance of being struck by lightning or of winning the lottery than of being shot by this guy. But. That winning lottery ticket isn't hiding out in the bushes waiting to take me out as I go through the most routine - or what should be the most routine - aspects of my life. Fears aren't always rational, but that doesn't lend them any less credibility to those who are afraid.

[poppyseed]

Get a life!

I have one. I'd like to keep it. Hence my concerns here. I'll get over it when the sniper is caught, killed, or heads to Indiana so you can give him what-for, unlike the rest of us weenies.

Your compassion and regard are underwhelming.

[Freedom2specul8]

"To: poppyseed

Get a life! Your chances of being shot are one in several million. As my brother, the doctor & great healer, once said: "when your number's up, it's up". get over it.

13 posted on 10/10/02 11:40 PM Central by enfield "

What the heck is your problem?

[MissAmericanPie]

Sounds like you come from a fun family, so that might explain your bravery sitting up there in Indiana.

[Freedom2specul8]

That would have been a better post instead of telling him to get a life. That's just the way I sees it.

I agree that he wants to cause fear..

[MissAmericanPie]

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