D.C. SNIPER TERROR: 'This guy is good, but not as a shooter'

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Tuesday, October 15, 2002 | Jon Dougherty

[tje]

Hitting a 9 inch plate at 150 yards doesn't really take a lot of skill. Especially with a decent weapon. I could consistently hit a 9 inch target at 100 yards with a .44 (TC) and that was with iron sites and standing. It didn't take that much practice.

I shot 1 inch groups at 200 yards with the .222 barrel. (with a rest).

[Flint]

Now shooting a another human being would be an added level of stress that I can't even imagine but then we don't hate anyone, not yet anyway.

This guy or guys are not shooting people, they are shooting targets. The only stress that is being applied is getting away after the shot, and they are doing quite well dealing with that.

[jacquej]

Do you doubt that they know this? They read and listen to all the same news you and I do.

The only question in my mind is how long it will take for LE and the Media to admit that this is terrorism.

If I see one more talking head/expert yammer on about how this is a :::lone nut/teenager playing out video game fantasies/disgruntled employee/military reject/fired Michael's employee::: I will give up reading and watching the news.

If I want fiction, at least I can choose good plausible fiction. This stuff we are being fed just doesn't cut it!

[madison10]

So that is what is keeping the creep busy on the weekends, using his/her time to reconnoiteur? (sp?)

[4Freedom]

Could Michael's have been chosen, because they lack the store security that other retailers have? I can't think of too much that the average criminal would be interested in shop-lifting from Michael's. Maybe they can afford to be a little lax in that department. That is until the pawn shop value of balls of styrofoam and candle wax goes up.

Another angle could be who owns Michael's. Is it anyone terrorists would target?

[Flint]

So that is what is keeping the creep busy on the weekends, using his/her time to reconnoiteur

How 'bout more traffic on the roads and harder to get away?

[madison10]

Hmmm...more traffic on the weekends? From reading the posts I thought the whole place was a moving parking lot on the weekdays and that the weekends wouldn't be much different. :) The traffic doesn't seem to be a problem, he/she just vanishes. Do you think the person is on foot most of the time?

[4Freedom]

The only question in my mind is how long it will take for LE and the media to admit that this is terrorism."

Hell shall hath frozen over? The devil will be wearing a shiny, new pair of ice skates?

They'll catch the shooter and determine that there's no way to pass a 40-year-old guy named Ahkmed off as an angry, young, white dude? ;^)

[bvw]

Total Daily traffic is usually highest on weekends. Think of it -- people might make 4 or 5 separate car trips each weekend day. On a workday, 2 or 3.

Work day rush hours are peak hours -- in one direction. Typically the shopping hours on Saturday 10 am to 2 pm are the week's peak hours in both directions. Work days are not the peak traffic days.

This is my personal, informed observation. I've counted cars for surveys twice and reviewed in detail studies and traffic count reports on over a half dozen occassions.

[bvw]

I'm talking ex-urban, suburban traffic. Urban, work district flows are a bit different.

[Mamzelle]

Since I shop regularly at a Michael's, the shootings sure rang my bell. It might be, though, that Michael's has the kind of middle-class customer that Home Depot has and attracts this shooter...or that Michael's has a habit of locating stores near handy traffic egress.

[4Freedom]

There's more shoppers around the malls on the weekend where I've lived. It's probably the same everywhere.

More chances to be seen on the weekends.

[Flint]

Well, what if two guys are in a van, the shooter and the spotter/driver? The shooter takes the shot, the driver takes him one block away, while the confusion is going on, the shooter takes the rifle and gets in a Yugo. The van is now clean. The shooter drives off in the Yugo, the LE is looking for a van. They stop the van, don't find anything and the van drives on. The shooter in the Yugo, stops off at the corner pub and watches the TV.

[Mamzelle]

More targets, but worse traffic. Harder to make a quick escape on weekends...wonder if that's why he takes the weekends off...

[Snowy]

Since I shop regularly at a Michael's, the shootings sure rang my bell. It might be, though, that Michael's has the kind of middle-class customer that Home Depot has and attracts this shooter...or that Michael's has a habit of locating stores near handy traffic egress.

You may be right, but I am still hooked on the word, "Michael". Terrorists love symbolism.

[LisaFab]

From their website:

History of Michaels® Stores, Inc.

Michaels® became a publicly held company in 1984 with 16 stores, mostly in Texas. During the early 1990's we embarked on an aggressive national expansion program. By 1995, we had more than tripled our store base to over 500 stores through new store openings and acquisitions, accomplishing our goal of becoming the nation's largest specialty retailer in our industry. During fiscal 2000, Michaels continued to build on its strong foundation, ending the year with 628 Michaels stores and 119 Aaron Brothers locations, and delivering yet another year of record growth and strategic accomplishments. Sales surpassed the $2 billion mark; net income increased 29%, demonstrating our ability to sustain strong sales and profit growth. For the fourth straight year, the Company has delivered increases in net income exceeding 25%.

[alaskanfan]

They said this morning, about 50 feet. Not much of a shot for anyone with even limited firearm experience.

[alaskanfan]

The enemy has sneaked into our country while our government turned a blind eye to the absense of our borders.

I would agree with your statement. One of the first duties of any sovereign nation is to secure it's borders. Ours are under attack at an unprecedented rate.

[FormerLurker]

If this latest shooting occured after dark, as it appeared to, I'm surprised that no one noticed a muzzel flash.

With the right ammunition and if a shooter takes adequate precautions, a .223 rifle would have little if any muzzle flash even without a flash suppressor. The flash only lasts a fraction of a second to begin with, so unless someone was looking right at him, they probably wouldn't see it anyways..

[alaskanfan]

Unless you know where to look, you won't see it.

Any large flash of light, like those associated with discharge of any firearm are very apparent in the dark.