Posted on 10/12/2002 9:01:01 AM PDT by forest
Someone once said something like 'in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.' Most government officials on the far left do not want to legislate us blind, of course. They are, however, illegally handicapping millions of American people.
For urban dwellers, one handicap is a natural hearing problem. That is, when someone is startled by a loud noise they often become a little disoriented. Quite often, because of echoes and other ambient noise, it takes a few seconds to figure out exactly where that loud noise came from. And, even after consciously thinking about it, they could still be wrong.
That problem is useful for snipers like the one harassing the suburban D.C. area. Whoever it is seems to be a rather good shot with that .223 rifle and can usually accomplish the dastardly deed with but one shot. Which means, by the time would-be witnesses in the area decide where to look, the shooter is hidden.
Nasty business that: snipers. Police believe the sniper has already shot nine people -- maybe ten. Consequently, the whole area is in a state of fear. Even the area's government schools have curtailed functions.
Maryland's governor called the shooter "a coward" during a news conference. The media also uses all sorts of unfounded descriptions, even though no one has the slightest idea who is doing the shooting.
There are a few very important things we know for sure, though. Perhaps these few things tell at least part of a story, so let's list what we know.
The shooter has little or nothing to worry about in that area because gun laws are draconian. So, unless the shooter happens to stumble upon an off duty police officer who is armed, no one will be shooting back. At least, that was true until last Friday. . . .
In nine of the ten cases, the sniper or snipers struck at a busy time of the day. Every shooting victim was in public, doing everyday things when shot. Again, the shootings were in daylight, usually during the busiest time of the day for that area. The locations chosen for the shootings were near major roadways, some of them at busy intersections.
We have, it appears, a sniper who knows how to play the environment. Some report that it is a coldly calculating sniper, shooting to kill. That seems obvious. But, there could be more to it than that.
It appears the sniper also knows the area. Proper cover is chosen. A good escape route is always available. Police never seem to be around the area at the time of the shooting. Ambient noise and the local environment help to "cover" the actual location of the shooter. And, also very important, the shooter is practiced enough that only one shot is necessary. The need for only taking one shot prevents witnesses from easily pinpointing the location of the shooter.
So, what we have here is a sniper who is either well trained at this or a natural at urban terrorism. It is not likely that a local nutcase with a gun would get the situation right so many times in a row. He may get lucky a couple times, but nine? Nope.
Chances are great that there are some similarities among the victims. This would be important but we do not know that yet. The sniper could be just taking any opportune target, but even that subconscious choice could offer a clue to the perpetrator's personality. The choice of shooting over an officers head to kill an innocent victim, as was done last Friday, certainly does. The officer was an easier target.
Now back to our problem: The armed sniper is allowed free shots in that area. He can take his time and acquire a target. He can take the shot, duck out of sight and vacate the area with impunity. Even if spotted, no one can do anything about it. He is armed, they are not. Odds are better than one-hundred to one that no citizen in the area is also armed. Even if spotted by police, the officer's handguns and shotguns are a poor match for a sniper with a rifle.
Such is the shame of the politicians of that area. They have caused the citizens to be totally defenseless. Like a shooting gallery, any nut with a gun may do his will with near impunity.
Because, in the land of the unarmed, one man with a gun can cause all sorts of havoc.
It is difficult to pinpoint one, short sound.
Media talks a lot, but no one has the slightest idea who is doing the shooting.
The shooter has little or nothing to worry about in that area because gun laws are draconian.
What we have here is a sniper who is either well trained at this or a natural at urban terrorism.
Even if spotted by police, the officer's handguns and shotguns are a poor match for a sniper with a rifle.
Such is the shame of the politicians of that area. They have caused the citizens to be totally defenseless. Like a shooting gallery, any nut with a gun may do his will with near impunity.
Because, in the land of the unarmed, one man with a gun can cause all sorts of havoc.
However, consider this line- "Even if spotted by police, the officer's handguns and shotguns are a poor match for a sniper with a rifle. -I'm not suggesting the draconian gun laws of maryland are "meet and fitting", and I suspect I'd "gun up" in defiance of them, but I don't think the laws are are really making much of a difference in this particular case.
At certain ranges even an amateur could do that to a stationary target with iron sights ....especially if they are not looking for a 'spectacular' shot like a head shot but just looking for a hit somehwere in the victim's upper torso! Toss in a telescopic sight and even head shots become possible.
Now, let's say this perp has had the rifle for some time! That means he is used to using a rifle ...maybe for hunting, or maybe he was ex-military! Whatever! In essence he is a chap who knows how to handle a rifle. At least marginally. And when it comes to sniping with a sighted scoped rifle all he needs is marginal esperience in shooting!
The only great skill involved in this case is the ease at which he has managed to evade capture. Otherwise his shooting is nothing phenomenal.
And when we are talking 200 yards with a 'sniper rifle' then you have to wonder ......should this person even be called a sniper or just a psycho-perp with a rifle? When i think 'sniper' i think of Serbs and Croats perched in bombed out buildings shooting mobile enemy personel that are aware of the presence of snipers and are hence taking adequate care, and firing targets at distances approaching a mile with only a split second for aiming and firing, not to mention factoring things like wind shear and gravity! That is a sniper. Not some guy 200 yards away shooting innocent people who are stationary and in vulnerable situations like filling gas, and then leaving tarot cards saying he is God! Again the only real skill i see in this perp is his ability to melt away. and maybe that is just due to luck!
As far as the inferior weapons of an armed public, the odds have it that sooner or later someone will got a bead on the b------ from behind cover. Then others will join. That will be the grave for that clown. It will be tough to fight an army of mad, good people.
We fired an M-16 with open sights, no scope.
Pop-up targets were set up at 75 meters, 150, 250, 300 meters.
I know it's bragging, but I qualified expert, which required about 95% hits on all targets at all ranges.
Let me reiterate, open sights, no scope.
This guy (or guys) is no sniper.
This series of incidents does not make a good argument for CC permitting--nor, obviously, for confiscating all the registered firearms in the USA.
This series of events DOES make a good case for being prepared to meet your Maker.
Me thinks you exagerate slightly.
certainly a nut case to boot for shooting unarmed civilians, no matter the cause.
I pray this a-hole is caught soon. What we have to look forward to now is copycats.
Not all were in daylight; the shooting in DC and the shooting in Manassas took place at night, in well-lit areas.
The choice of shooting over an officers head to kill an innocent victim, as was done last Friday
I'm not sure this is true; as I understand it, the officer was 50 yards beyond the victim, not between the victim and the sniper.
Anyone's entitled to their opinions, but maybe the author should start by getting his facts straight.
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