# Sniper theories **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 15, 2002, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniper-theories/132325 "2002-10-15T14:23:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Phoenix\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Phoenix\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phoenix_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniper-theories/132325/41 "2002-10-18T10:58:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skippman \* > \*\*The point I was trying to make (unsucessfully) is that I don’t believe this man to be a trained military sniper. \*\* I’m not so quick to make that jump, he very well could be. Which is more skilled? The sniper who can make a 300-meter headshot on a stationary target, or the one who can approach to within 100 yards or less, make the kill, and exfiltrate without being detected – nine times. There is a lot more to being a sniper, especially a millitary sniper, than just making the shot. So I wouldn’t count out him being a trained sniper. I also wouldn’t rule out many other possibilities, such as just some smart guy with a rifle that’s got a good grip on tactics. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if this guy had _some_ millitary background (The choice of caliber might be an indication of that, though more likely for a non-sniper MOS). ---
**Author:** ![Skippman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Skippman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skippman)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniper-theories/132325/42 "2002-10-18T13:38:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\* > You, my friend, are full-o-shit. Your post clearly makes the inference that anyone who can shoot somebody in the head from 300 yards away is a “real man”. > > And I’m saying that anybody who shoots anybody anywhere from any distance is an asshole, and people who admire other people for their skill killing are as equally assholish … i.e. you. Fuck-nut. \*\* Mr. Batty, I ask a question of you. Do you personally have a hard on for me or is it a flaw in my personality that makes you so irate? You feel the need to insult me, twice, because my opinion differs from your own. Again, I in no way stated that I sympathize, am rooting for, or otherwise approve of this in-duah-viduals actions. Yet you seem to think that I do. I appologize if I have in any way offended you personally. It was never my intent. But I ask you to stop this apparent flame war, as it serves no purpose. For the record, I oppose the unnessicary killing of any being, human or otherwise. The only justifiable killings in my own world view are those performed out of the need for food, or the need for self preservation - self defence. This man may have had military training, ala Tim McVey, but I am still skeptical. The use of a .223 cal round is a bit suspect. But the .223 is a very common round in rifles these days. The evac point is well taken, this individual definatly has a grasp of the situation he has himself in and seems to be planning accordingly. I’m just glad the killing has stoped for now. Let’s hope it’s over for good. ---
**Author:** ![Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misery_Loves_Co)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniper-theories/132325/43 "2002-10-18T14:50:14Z")
\*\* Aspidistra\*\* Go figure. . . Yet another “brilliant” idea of mine has already been done bigger and better by someone else… _sigh_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniper-theories/132325/44 "2002-10-18T15:08:12Z")
Aspidistra, you beat me to it. Dang. MLC – definitely read it. It’s very good. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniper-theories/132325/45 "2002-10-18T21:48:51Z")
Hey ho– Anyone checked in with World Net Daily today? [Beltway Killer Likely Foreign!](http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29331) > [@](#): > > He says investigators can’t rule out the possibility that the sniper may have been absorbed by a Muslim community that’s anchored by a large mosque or Islamic center in Maryland or Virginia – one that may be less inclined to provide police with tips. [Sniper sending 9-11 message?](http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29337) > [@](#): > > Is it a sick Sept. 11 message from Islamic terrorists? … If you include the one missed shot that opened the rash of shootings Oct. 2, which was the bullet that entered the window of a Maryland crafts store, the count is 9 fatalities, 11 hits and 1 miss – or 9-11-01. [2 Hispanics sought in D.C. area Hunt](http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29188) > [@](#): > > A Montgomery County Police spokesman confirmed that the BOLO describes the suspects in the sniper slayings as “Hispanic.” > > But he cautioned that they could be another non-white race. > > “We do not count on them being two Hispanic males,” said Officer Derek Baliles. “Appearances can be interpreted. We do not want to limit anything at all.” > > “It’s possible,” he added, that the suspects could be Middle Eastern. Um… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniper-theories/132325/46 "2002-10-19T01:33:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brujo \* > I hope that the sniper gets hit by a bus, or that the police catch him, or that he is killed in some freak home accident. I think options 1 and 3 would be terrible. Then the police would spend countless hours of their time looking for a criminal without any hope of ever finding him. (See the american movie “The Pledge”, 2001, for an example of that kind of situation.) Much better if the police catch the criminal. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniper-theories/132325/47 "2002-10-19T01:36:34Z")
I give up. Listen, this is the Pit. I read between the lines from your rather enthusiastic throwing around of phrases and terms like, “Go for a head-shot” not a “center mass”, coupled with your preternatural affinity for ammunition statistics to be a firm indication of a strange fascination with guns and killing in general. I took a little piss out. It happens. I don’t mind arguing. I don’t mind the banter. I have nothing against you personally, as I haven’t a fucking clue who you are. My point was this – who gives a shit how good he is as a sniper? He’s killing people. I don’t see how a run down of velocity reports of various calibers enter into the picture. I’d much rather be called a bleeding heart dick head and get on with it than – … “Wah, why don’t you like me?” But, hey, live and let live. Unless I need you for food or something. Seriously – struck a nerve – I went off. At least it was only verbally. I’m out. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniper-theories/132325/48 "2002-10-19T04:51:25Z")
> [@](#): > > _Arnold Winkelreid posted_ I think options 1 and 3 would be terrible. Then the police would spend countless hours of their time looking for a criminal without any hope of ever finding him. (See the american movie “The Pledge”, 2001, for an example of that kind of situation.) Much better if the police catch the criminal. Yeah, I would rather the police catch this asshole and be able to stop the search, but compared to the alternative of him killing another person, it’s not so bad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sniper-theories/132325.md?page=2)