US Serial Sniper Thread

Well, what can you say? I'm sure we've all heard about it and it's absolutely shocking that someone could do this. I mean just randomly selecting victims as if it was a game and meant nothing to the shooter. I just can't believe how a person in their right mind could do something like that - just so horrible.

Anyways, I'm writing this cos I was watching NBC and they just said that police are investigating games and websites that advertise a "one shot, one kill" kind of message. They showed Counter-Strike websites and other shooting games on their telecast.

I just hope they find this sick son of a bitch and put an end to it, cos from what it seems, this guy (or girl) isn't going to stop killing.

I mean can you even imagine if this was happening in your local area? I wouldn't even leave the house - it's just so random. I mean you know another incident will occur - it's just a matter of time. It's just a matter of who he/she picks as the target and whether they pierce the heart or the head...it could be anyone.

Just shocking.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you have any? Can be relating to anything, such as the killer, whether games are a factor, etc...

Greg

--
EDIT: Refer to this for the counter-strike stuff I'm talking about. It's also got other info:
Msnbc.com
--

- Edited By liquid On Fri 11th, Oct 2002 @ 1:45am

I'm fed up of this shiznit, fact is; if your crazy enought to buy a gun and shoot people for real then you deserve to die, and thats why the death penalty needs to be brought back in full use everywhere.

Yeah, but you can't just say, "oh, we'll just slap on a death penalty to people who do this." I mean yeah, that's good - I think they should die too. But, this isn't gonna prevent others in the future doing similar things. How many innocent deaths will it be before this guy is caught? Will it stop at seven, as it currently stands, or will it grow to 20? I mean I don't even want to think about it.

Something has to be thought of in trying to stop these people. Trying to find a cause of why people do these sorts of things. I was reading the "Son of Sam" serial killer that was around New York like 30 years ago (or so) and it was worse then this sniper. This dude killed mainly women with a hand gun at close range. It lasted longer then one year and when they finally caught him, the detective said, "when I walked into the room to interview him, I was so angry...but when I left, I wasn't angry, I felt sorry for him...the guy is a f**king vegetable." They were his words - of very similar (just off the top of my head).

You just don't know what goes on in these people's heads. Whether games effect their thoughts, whether it's arguments with their wifes (as the case of James Huberty - who killed over 20 people in one incident at a McDonald's store. He did this after an argument with his wife...followed them to the store.)

Is it possible to prevent future phsyco-serial killers from inflicting such damage to the community and killing innocent lives? I hope so...but I just don't see how you could pick out these people - just like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Greg

To solve a problem, look at the root. What causes serial killers? As said above, no-one knows.

Games are only a factor if the mental stability of an adult is damaged, under-developed or the adult is in fact a child.

Reason also plays a part, someone who kills for no reason, with no link between victims, is mentally unstable.

as stated many times before, there is not, and has never been any study that has pointed at, or even hinted that violent video games cause ppl to pick up guns and go out and shoot ppl.
i mean, all the ppl who play Q4, it isnt like u would ever think that it might be fun to go buy a bazooka and fire it at ppl in real life. that sorta thing would never even have come to your mind. I personally think that these sort of accusations toward the gaming industry need to be stopped, and not perpetuated my the media. There are ppl who have dedicated their lives to keeping the video game industry largely free of censorship (exceptions may include greece). This harkens back to another discussion about what would happen if video games become completely realistic, would anyone want to play them?
I dont think that anyone would play fps's if when u were fragged, or riddled with the minigun, u actually felt every bullet go through your body. That would spoil the whole point of the game.
Not to say that video games might potentially have played some part in warping this sickos already twisted mind, but nobody would ever do this unless they were already mentally instable to begin with. i think that the media should focus less on whether video games are twisting peoples minds, because they aren't. The only ppl that they twist are the ones that are already instable

I'll get down off of my soapbox now, i feel better

Look at GTA3. I haven't played it yet, but apparently you can get the character and sit on the roof top and snipe civilians on the street.

Similarities?? Absolutely.

I'm not saying that this guy is motivated by GTA3, but i'm saying we've gotta be more careful with these games. Noone knows for sure how computer games have affected our community. Violent crime dates back way before computers...you only need to look to the Roman Empire which was full of deceit, traitorship and murder (i knew i would learn something from studying Latin at school)

As for this sniper-guy. I sure hope he messes up soon, because at this rate, he may not be caught for several weeks...which is a frightening thought

Yes, because ofcourse everyday I want to go outside with a fking crowbar and start smacking ugly looking people round the head, I also have the urge to go in a backalley with my M4 and shoot hostages, I mean MAN video games are to mofo blame.

I mean seriously the other day I was walking down the street and though 'WTF why dont I get my pistol out and start shooting people cos yano In a videogame, a contained simulation, it works fine, SO WHY NOT IN REAL LIFE.

FKING PLZ, videogames are as much to blame as my dogs pooping, the real problem here is the people selling guns.

azz0r wrote: Yes, because ofcourse everyday I want to go outside with a fking crowbar and start smacking ugly looking people round the head, I also have the urge to go in a backalley with my M4 and shoot hostages, I mean MAN video games are to mofo blame.

I mean seriously the other day I was walking down the street and though 'WTF why dont I get my pistol out and start shooting people cos yano In a videogame, a contained simulation, it works fine, SO WHY NOT IN REAL LIFE.

FKING PLZ, videogames are as much to blame as my dogs pooping, the real problem here is the people selling guns.

Side issue: Can you not use net-speak in this section please, cos i seriously don't understand it. What do you mean by "mofo blame"?

Main points:
yes people selling guns contribute to the problem for sure. the sooner we get guns off the street the better. how this guy got hold of a sniper rifle is beyond me, because the only reason you would get a sniper rifle is to injure or kill a human. Probably blackmarket but hey...

I still reckon video games can and do influence people to a certain degree. I wouldn't be surprised if people who start out as "normal" get addicted to violent games, and that this begins to trip their mind. I dunno. i guess i am alone on this one, as i am on most things So much for being different I just don't think we should be underestimating computer games.

Back to topic:
I hope they get this crazed coward ASAP!!!

Amen brother...

M@t wrote:
Side issue: Can you not use net-speak in this section please, cos i seriously don't understand it. What do you mean by "mofo blame"?

mother fking blame, jesus

No, I don't believe that videogames commands us directly. Otherwise we'd be jumping on people's heads and throwing fireballs 10 years ago. NOW THAT DIDNT HAPPEN NOW DID IT?

However I do believe it can influence us but not cause it. To do something like mass murder I think you'd have to be quite disturbed first and foremost. Things like 'angry music' and 'violent games' etc., aren't the cause but mearly a reflection. I think that it accucially helps people vent out their anger.

About what's going on in the DC area, this has happened before, when there was a sniper in a bell tower at some university years ago. And this can even be comparable to Son of Sam. (who btw was inspired by a demon in the form of a dog) Even about 16 years ago there was a rouge sniper in my area. It's awful and I only pray that whoever is doing it gets caught before more people get hurt. Linking back to media/games... Son of Sam and that bell tower guy was years ago, and they didn't have video games back then, (c'ept pong ) and it still happened. I think that's a hard argument there.

The thing that I can't really imagine is how the people in the Washington DC area can live, cos I haven't had anything of the sort happening anywhere around where I live. I mean there is one almost certain thing that can be gathered - this guy WILL attempt to kill again. How can you go along and live a normal life outside your home when you know that soon, someone else will fall victim.

Now, as I said, I don't know how it would feel. I don't know what I would do. However, I would guess that life over there right now would be terrifying. I seriously doubt that I would have the ability to walk outside anywhere...let alone get petrol.

The only time these people will feel safe is when they get this bastard...still, I don't know if they'll be feeling 100% safe. How can you after such an event?

Greg

Dunno. 10th shooting, 8th death.

It's not like Quake, Doom, Half-Life or UT you bloody nutcases!

In conclusion it is the Constitution, its Mabo, its Landrights, its the vibe....and yeah, its just the vibe.

I'd feel safe venturing out and continuing with life.

2 reasons.

Chances are he won't return to the same area to strike.

The odds of being killed are still very high. High enough to put money on if you know what I mean liquid.

Ultimately, if it's time to go, it's time to go. Being sniped is a good way to die. You don't see it coming, and if he does his job right, you 'd be dead straight away. Better than being chopped by a samurai sword and bleed to death.

1. Please don't make fun of my gambling addiction.
2. I'm saying people in the general area - Washington DC - it's pretty big you know.
3. If this sort of thing was happening in Hawthorn/Balwyn area, I'm pretty sure you'd have a different spin on it. Once you know your life is actually in danger - you would act differently, it's a human reaction - you cannot tell me you are NOT afraid of dying.

Greg

1. I didn't know you had a gambling problem. But admition of a problem is the first step to recovery. Good progress grizzly!

2. Yeah big area, exactly, hard chance of getting killed.

3. Nah rest assured i'll be right. Considering i don't live in any of those areas. I live in nt balwyn. We got trees to protect us

Lets just say that there was a sniper in Boroondara. You would be concerned. I would be. Me walking along the street would be a target for a sniper. You riding your bike, you stop at a traffic light, and then BAM, you get shot and you die. Thats pretty much the way its been happening there

From what i've observed he doesn't sem to target people in crowds. Maybe one should move in crowds

I was filling the car up at the petrol station tonight, and i wondered how bad it would be to be just filling up the car and then get shot. It's just ridiculous, and cowardly to shoot someone in that situation

Sooners wrote: 1. I didn't know you had a gambling problem. But admition of a problem is the first step to recovery. Good progress grizzly!

2. Yeah big area, exactly, hard chance of getting killed.

3. Nah rest assured i'll be right. Considering i don't live in any of those areas. I live in nt balwyn. We got trees to protect us

haha greg and his gambling!! I guess you have the NAB to blame for that... oh and sooners i don't think the trees would save us - more likely the old folk about.. this guy is such a coward, he would not be able to hit you powering along on your bike.. but the old folk and their walking frames.. well that is another story altogethor

i think that this guy is gay. maybe sniping someone once is ok then stop but doing it so many times so suspiosly that gets old and kind of stupid to search for him.

DBZGotenksSu wrote: i think that this guy is gay. maybe sniping someone once is ok then stop but doing it so many times so suspiosly that gets old and kind of stupid to search for him.

And your point is?

liquid wrote: ...you cannot tell me you are NOT afraid of dying...

Au contre. I dont FEAR death, more of a rather not have it type thing. I wont rant cuz that was in the other topic.

Neurowave wrote:

liquid wrote: ...you cannot tell me you are NOT afraid of dying...

Au contre. I dont FEAR death, more of a rather not have it type thing. I wont rant cuz that was in the other topic.

Are you saying that you are not scared of dying? So if someone took you as a hostage and was just about to cut your throat, you'd be sitting there, calm as can be, waiting for this guy to get on with it?

You wouldn't be screaming? You wouldn't be sweating? You wouldn't be panicing in any way, shape or form?

I'm sorry mate, I just don't believe that!

Greg