Beltway Sniper Shootings-FR Commentary-Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002 [Another Shooting?]

Fox News, CNN, Press Releases | October 22, 2002 | Fox News, CNN, Press Releases

[Peach]

Let's keep a live commentary thread gonig again today.

[MasonGal]

Wow - I jsut got home from running some errands and picking up 2 of my sons from Latin class. This is chilling.

[Cboldt]

What was the source of the threat some time ago? TYhe one that implicated threat to students of all ages? For some reason, today's threat to "kill your children" is a minor deja vu for me.

[MTCJK]

Don't be so ethno-centric. Hirsuteness is sexy.

Be back in a minute, i have to check my dictionary

[Howlin]

Judy Woodruff is having a fit.....she's officially "concerned."

[valleygal]

I read you loud and clear:)

[Peach]

Anyone able to post transcript of Moose just now? His comments just before mentioning the exact words lead me to believe the shooter insisted the PS be read on television.

[rintense]

You can damn well be sure that the President is now being given updates CONSTANTLY. The fact that Ari mentioned the shootings yesterday shows that there is an interest all the way to the top.

We need Laura to come on TV to comfort the children.

[OReilly]

This is insane. I guess he released it to SHUT UP the media!

My guess is he released it for liability reasons. With everything, every piece of information being held so close and not disclosing vital information about safety of children to the public, they could be successfully sued.

I'm sure there is other vital information not being disclosed, if only because they are disclosing almost nothing.

[WRhine]

WOW. I am now convinced it is terrorism.

Yep, it's similar to what OBL said when he fessed up about 9/11. Of course, a domestic nut could use this as cover but in with the "dear mister policeman" tarot card message it does add more credibility that we have a terrorist operation here.

[rintense]

I got a chill up my spine when he made that statement. Now, I hope everyone will understand why Moose has been so shaken.

I am pissed as hell right now. I could spit nails.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Look, Miss M, I guess we're just miscommunicating today.

I am not calling you a wuss; I do not expect anyone to dodge bullets to prove themselves; and I certainly applaud your contingency plans.

I was merely trying to convey my displeasure at the thought of Americans willingly submitting to being confined to their homes. Perhaps, we simply view the term differently.

Certainly, no apology was owed. (I was just kdding around, since you had presumed my apology.)

[MasonGal]

I flipped it over to CNN and saw Judy W. - her face definitely showed that she was officially concerned.

[iceskater]

We need Laura to come on TV to comfort the children.

I think I could use a little comforting too. Sigh. The nightmares will be back tonight, I'm afraid.

[Howlin]

"expert" on CNN saying all parents need to go to schools and daycare, etc., and check out "line of sight" around the schools.

Err on the side of prudence.

[valleygal]

"Dear Mr. Shooter,

I ain't got no chillrun, so stuff it."

This is serious...stop making me laugh. I repeat, that was not funny.:)

[Peach]

today's threat to "kill your children" is a minor deja vu for me.

I remember it too - an AQ statement/video - "aren't safe anywhere, anytime". That's why I want Moose's comments just before he released that statement. He said something about it is important that people hear the precise language.

[Route66]

I just went back and listened to Moose's comments. He said they (LE) thought it was important to let the public know because of the speculation that was already rampant. He did not make it sound in any way like it was being done on instruction from the shooter.

[aeronca]

This is obviously some sick and twisted blackmail going on and I bet it started from the get go and when the LEO's couldn't/didn't comply with some demand--then someone got "hit". I bet the "random hits" on innocent people happens every time LE or gov't does not meet demands. The sniper is one thing...but is there a bigger threat? Like a van or box truck driving around with a suitcase? Like maybe the sniper is just a "punctuation mark" for a bigger statement????

[Catspaw]

You bet the killer wanted the words read--and so did the media.

But forewarned is forearmed, with emphasis on the ARMED. Just don't mess with our kids.

[bcoffey]

"OK, serious now, why are they using the news media to communicate with this guy. What do you think?"

I was thinking about that earlier. :) Ten years ago there would have been no 24/7 news outlets to "use." Is it because they (cable news) are available, or because the sniper(s) told them to.

Moreover, why use national media for what has so far been a local situation?

Questions beget more questions.