In wartime applications, this is true. A single guy with a rifle and little more, sneaking into an enemy area in order to take one or two well placed shots that can influence an entire battle or campaigne, and then trying to escape with his life to fight another day is a brave person.

This sniper, so dubbed by the press, in Maryland is not a brave person. He's a thrill killer using stealth techniques.

In wartime applications, this is true. A single guy with a rifle and little more, sneaking into an enemy area in order to take one or two well placed shots that can influence an entire battle or campaigne, and then trying to escape with his life to fight another day is a brave person.

This sniper, so dubbed by the press, in Maryland is not a brave person. He's a thrill killer using stealth techniques.</font>[/QUOTE]then, he doesnt fit in to be a sniper. long range killer, or simply shooter.

[ 10-09-2002, 09:39 AM: Message edited by: 250 ]

I understand your strict interpretation, but people are using the term sniper in the generic sense, which is exactly how the term started.

Originally, a "sniper" was anyone who was a good shot. It started as a nickname for British soldiers who were especially good at shooting the snipe(sp?), a quick moving game bird. They where called snipers(the British are so original ;) ). Snipers were considered great shots, and over the years the term developed into the title of today's military field sniper. At least that's what the History Channel said in it's episode on snipers last week. [img]smile.gif[/img]

This guy is a sniper in that sense. He's a very good shot. It's a commonly used and understood word, that describes this situation immediately to those hearing about it. It may not be correct in the strictest sense of today's military sniper, but that's not the common usage of the word.

I'm talking about the definition.

snipe
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): sniped; snip·ing
Date: 1832
1 : to shoot at exposed individuals (as of an enemy's forces) from a usually concealed point of vantage
- snip·er noun

You're talking about a military/law enforcement job title. I do hope someone with that job gets to stop this idiots rampage! :D

[ 10-09-2002, 10:00 AM: Message edited by: Ronn_Bman ]

the bird was called snipe :D

250, I'm sure you've heard of the infamous "snipe hunt" where you take someone completely clueless into the woods and have them scare the snipe towardsthe group who will be waiting to pick it off, the main group usually leaves at this point to go get beer or other refreshments, returning several hours later to poke fun at said clueless individual

and?

<font color=orange>Boy this thread has gone every where now! We're talking about snipe hunts and cow tipping! Jeez loueze!</font>

Okay, I deleted my post. We'll keep it a gun-fetish thread. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

<font color=orange>I was just kidding! You didn't have to delete it.

BTW, here is a quote from CNN about this nut case.</font>
<font color=yellow>
"James Fox, a professor of criminal justice at Northeastern University, told CNN's Connie Chung he believes the killer is shooting people "for sport."

"This is an insignificant nobody that, through this killing spree, feels very much important," Fox said. "He feels that he's overpowering the whole community. He feels very good about the fact that he can outsmart the police."

<font color=orange>I thought this pretty much summed up my opinion of this guy. </font>

Why does everyone think that it's a guy doing it?

It doesn't have to be, but the profile of serial killers is young-to-middle aged white males.

I think the dude got a new toy and is deciding to test it out.

The fact that he is socially reprehensible is giving him a kick... what power he has and isn't caught.

I would be highly surprised if there was a pattern. It seems like he is going about his usual stuff, gets the idea, "Hey, no one will catch me here" and shoots. So far, he has been correct.

I agree with the CNN assessment.

I find it infinitely sad that the quiet community I called home for 20 odd years is now in the news for something so heinous. I am also stunned that it would happen there of all places. (Road rage in that area I can understand, but this is much different).

I have been talking with my friends and family still there. They are still reeling from the shock. One friend is a fireman in Kensington, and they are totally shaken to the core when answering these calls. The wonderful police and emergency services there never had to deal with something so mindless. My heart goes out to them and a community that may never fully recover.

Well, someone should let this guy (or girl) know that it's not very sporting or impressive to kill humans. Humans are plentiful, readily available targets, naive in their normal feelings of security, with little innate hiding, running, or defensive abilities, and an uncanny susceptibility to system-shock-based attack forms (e.g. guns). If he wants to impress me, take that .223 and hunt Grizzlies.

<font color=orange>Grizzly hunting with a .223 and living to tell the tale, would definitely impress me! Especially if he or she had pictures!</font>

Because men are inherently more violent than women, and most murderers tend to be men.

Gotta love that Y chromosome! Ain't it great? *considers making a thread outlawing men* ;)

Yeah - I also forgot to mention in my earlier posts my sincere wish that this guy is caught soon, before he claims another victim. It doesn't matter what my politics are - this guy is a murderer and needs catching, no matter what the side issues are.

I can't believe I have to still post to this thread, meaning I can't believe this guy(s) hasn't been caught yet :(

I heard the same thing Sir T, it apparently was leaked out to the press about the Tarot cards (which in some ways is a shame really, I mean the police HAVE to keep certain info to themselves cause most likely this killer(s) is also watching TV). The media has been shameful in that they have taken over regular programs to talk about one killing all day long, repeating themselves endlessly, putting on all sorts of different "experts" to give their opinions on who the killer is, etc. I just think in some ways this makes things worse if the killer is seeing all these news footages about his/their deeds. You know after the very first killings last Wednesday, the schools closed the kids inside and had no daytime outside activities, all were cancelled, which is totally fine and the right thing to do, but the news media must have mentioned that fact again and again, interviewing scared parents all over the place. What I'm getting at is before then there were no children shot, most of the killings were adult victims, but the news media mentioning the schools kept on going day after day, and then, here we go, a child gets shot near his school. Who knows, maybe all that "school" fear being shown on TV gave the killer(s) ideas? Maybe not, I could be totally wrong as well. I just think the media has to cool it a bit on their footage. I think they need to keep it informative, but not keep repeating the same info again and again for hours on end with no new info at all.

Anyway, back to what I originally was getting at (lol I'm long winded this evening), that info re the Tarot Card was leaked, not supposed to be released to the public yet. Now that it has it's all over the place on the news. They apparently found a card near one of the shootings, under a tree a good distance away from where the victim was shot, thought to be where the killer was standing. So they find this Tarot card on the ground that says "To the Policeman, I am God", which also not surprisingly is the Death Card. Who knows what it means or even if it is from the killer, could be some prank from some stupid idiots.

MAN I hope they get this guy(s) soon!!! They have quite a large reward out now for any info that might help catch them, up to $200,000 now I think. Lot of people donated to get it up to that much of a reward. Let's hope it works, it's unnerving going outside wondering if someone may be out there looking at you through a scope :(

[ 10-09-2002, 08:32 PM: Message edited by: ladyzekke ]

I'm afraid that this is part of the problem Sir Tal. You fail to understand their reasoning. You see the effect but not the cause.

The terrorist doesn't act for fun, even though we disagree with their actions and reasoning.

Lady Zekke

That's why I now call CNN the Constant Noise Network. Big Media realises that you can't have a 24 hour news cast but since they started it, they won't admit a mistake and pull the plug.

That's also why I read the funnies instead of watching/reading the noise - I mean news.

<font color = lightgreen><font color = red>Belle</font> and I watched the news today after <font color = white>TJ</font> went to school. When we saw the story about the card, I asked "I wonder what card it was?", to which <font color = red>Belle</font> replied, "probably the death card". I don't believe that this is a credible clue--it is too predictable. Besides, the Death card is usually a sign of change, not actual death.

Interesting how the only piece of "evidence" that has been leaked just so happens to fit the perfect profile of what a typical serial killer would do; leaving death-related clues, that is. The card was found in the woods, but the Shooter has always been in a vehicle, to speed away as soon as a shot is fired. [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img] This card is a hoax.</font>

I dont understand... he is in a car, and with a gun, and all his killing are in the middle of town, in the day.

He has to aim his gun to do his killing, how come nobody saw anything?

He has to drive around a lot to find a good spot, then he need to park his car, get the gun out of his windows to aim, shoot, then leave. And no one saw that?

It appears he shifted his territory to Virginia.

Yeah sure. YOu just wait until no one is around. Patience patience. I think I do see a pattern developing - gas station pumps and other places where people will be in one predictable location standing still for a couple of minutes. Makes it a sure kill zone sooner or later.

Yeah sure. YOu just wait until no one is around. Patience patience. I think I do see a pattern developing - gas station pumps and other places where people will be in one predictable location standing still for a couple of minutes. Makes it a sure kill zone sooner or later.</font>[/QUOTE]yeah, you said it, patience.

<font color="#ffffcc">You know, it is a horrible thing what this lunatic is doing, however, it does unmask an ugly truth about our every day life. People wander around assuming saftey and security thinking that the police will keep us safe and sound. We seem to have lost the concept of taking responsiblity for our own health and safety. We don't keep a good awareness of what is going on around us (hence this guy can brandish a long barrel weapon in public and noone sees him) We don't take any type of care in protecting ourselves beyond locking the doors to our houses and cars. Our society has made us all pretty lax when it comes to these kidns of things and no amount of police protection can change the fact that you can never take your safety and security for granted.

Just a rambling thought that came to me reading the paper today.</font>

<font color="#ffffcc">Well Northern Virginia is about a 20 minute drive from where he started all this.....ok so its 20minutes normally...3 hours during rush hours</font>

True. The safer you make society, the more complacent its citizens become. We aren't prepared for this in this Country. We haven't known since the 1860s what it's like to have a war fought in your homeland. Complacency breeds easy targets - we are a nation of sheep. Guns, or not. We are very good at haggling over social or intellectual details, using technology, and the like - but dealing with a man who is face-to-face with you (or off in the distance) and looking to kill you is something the citizens of most other places on the planet (read: Southern countries) are better at dealing with.

just one thing, as far as I know, there is no way to protect oneself from a sniper rifle. sooner or later, someone is gonna get it, no matter how well the protection is

He doesent have to spend long looking for a good spot. He can look at a map, go for a brief drive round to make its as good as it looks, and then return later in a different vehicle and shoot someone. Not hard to figure out.

And how much time do you spend looking at parked vehicles anyway? enough to be sure that it wont move and hit you I suspect, but most people dont pay more attention than that.

He has to aim his gun, sure. But if he is in a van, he can have someone else drive and shoot out the side door. That way hes in the dark, the rifle wont reflect light or anything, and there wont be a spent cartidge to find because it will eject inside the vehicle.

Which means I also reckon that tarot card and casing were a hoax. Probably planted by some local yob with no regard for human life. Its a sad fact that such people are ten a penny in any major city.

Well yip-a-de-■■■■■■■-doodah, now this certified nut is a couple of miles down the road from where I live. Makes us all feel just great about our daily lives now doesn't it? Mission accomplished for said individual. Yes Mag the odds of the finger pointing at you are remote, however words and statistics fail to secure us against worry that gnaws at many.

There's something so very chilling about an individual who can in their own time and with no undue stress, make a calculated decision to end someone's life they don't know for no reason other than because they can. It's so very different from a crime of rage, a drive-by or a sexual predator. The lack of motive for me is the freaky thing.

As for the media, what a little darling he or she must be. I bet they are positively drooling from their well-made-over faces. Better than a police car chase, more exciting than a daredevil rescue and it goes on over days and days while people remain glued to their tvs in the hope of some new piece of BS force fed to them like ravenous dogs.

The only way I see this sick ■■■■ being brought to justice is when he or she makes a mistake. I must agree though that this just smells like a man as well. It would shock America to find out that this shooter is a woman. Perhaps that's the point?

[ 10-10-2002, 08:35 PM: Message edited by: Asphyxiate ]

Yes Asphyxiate, and the media I think is just making it worse at this point. You KNOW the killers are watching, and seeing how MUCH attention they are getting, listening to all those "expert's" opinions, what the police have uncovered, etc. I think it is driving them on, the media again needs to cool it and not sensationalize it so much! Yes, it IS a big deal, and should be reported, but don't disrupt the entire daytime TV schedule to talk about it all day and night long! They are just repeating theirselves and it is totally redundant at that point. I mean, you knows these killers are getting some kind of arrogant satisfaction watching all the coverage about them, whether they be terrorists, disgruntled freakos, or just plain sick attention getters with no life and just decided to say F*&^ it and I'm taking as many down with me before I go. :(

It always bothers me when the media makes a big production of such cases, because YES, you KNOW the killer is watching. Unless completely demented (in which case you'd expect the postal-rage type mass killing in a McDonalds, not the calculated and cold blooded targeting of individuals) then he or she (yes, that's a possibility) is doing this for something more than pure anger/rage...I am guessing publicity or the "see I am smarter than the police" rush....whatever the reason, he/she is majorly screwed up. :(

Take care of yourselves all of you in that area!