The D.C. Sniper! Can you believe this?

[PeacefulWarrior]

Hunting the hunter: Profiling the sniper
Wednesday, October 9, 2002 Posted: 8:29 PM EDT (0029 GMT)


   
   

 SPECIAL REPORT

• Gallery: Sniper's trail, the victims
• Backgrounder: About Tarot cards
• Gallery: School shooting reaction
• Timeline: Past sniper shootings
• Graphic: Tracing bullets



 

(CNN) -- As the hunt for the sniper who has terrorized residents in the Washington, D.C., area enters a second week, the role of the profiler in helping investigators put a face on the killer has received more attention.

Media headlines blare that the profilers are baffled by the failure of the killer to conform to known patterns. But this assertion comes from a misunderstanding of the role, function and method of the profiler, said Clint Van Zandt, a former FBI profiler.

Portrayed in television and movies as the mystics of law enforcement, people with an almost psyche link to the mind of the killer, profilers are in fact engaged in what Van Zandt calls "a broad brush art."

"A profile is an investigative tool. It is not science, it is not DNA, it is not latent fingerprints. ... It is just one more tool investigators have. But a profile does not tell you who did the crime," Van Zandt said.

Profilers are engaged is building a "constantly evolving" document that is available to investigators to focus their search, Van Zandt said.

Van Zandt disputed the popular notion that research into previous multiple killings has provided clearly defined "profiles" of killers that can be used to fit each case that comes along.

"There is a skeletal structure, so to speak, of certain individuals, but the clothes that we hang on that skeleton come from investigation. And that's what starts to form the picture, the profile of who we're looking for," Van Zandt said.

And sometimes a killer may not fall within even very general categories, which seems to be the case so far with the killings in Maryland, Virginia and Washington.

"So far it appears we have kind of a hybrid. We have what we call a spree killer, in essence someone who kills one person after another without an emotional cooling off period in between," Van Zandt said.

"And yet, because of the period of time that has lapsed, now it is starting to take on some of the traits of a serial killer, in essence, someone who kills with that emotional cooling off period, which can be days, weeks, even months, depending on the serial killer himself or herself."

What profilers may well be able to offer investigators, depending on the evidence authorities have discovered at each crime scene, is a series of statistical probabilities -- the shooter's age, his race, his academic or professional background, perhaps even his motive, Van Zandt said.

This enables those in charge of the investigation to "take the population group and shrink it until it becomes manageable" he says.

"Hypothetically, we know, it's a statistical probability that a sniper in a situation like this is likely to be a male as opposed to a female. Well, then, we have eliminated 50 percent of the population. Now does that rule out a woman from doing this? No, but we'll say it is a very small chance.

"But if a witness says, 'I saw a car with smoke coming out of the window after a shot was fired and I saw a red-headed woman in the passenger seat,' profile be damned, you have to go with the evidence that you have," Van Zandt said.

So what are the types of questions profilers will be asking?

"You start out with very generic profiles, like, Is the offender organized or disorganized? An organized person has transportation, brings the weapon with him, has the ability to get in and out from a crime scene without being detected," Van Zandt said.

"Or, a disorganized person may walk or take public transportation. He may use a weapon of opportunity. You may see overkill on the part of the victim. He may just escape because he's lucky, not because he's calculating."

"So you start with an organized-disorganized offender. Then you say: A serial killer is this, a spree killer is that.

"But, again, these are broad general titles that you kind of paste up on a wall, and then you start to work with the intelligence you have, the information that comes through investigation, and you refine that."



fides quaerens intellectum

[PeacefulWarrior]

The origin

Theories abound of Tarot's source: ancient Egypt, China, India and Morocco among them. But the cards -- as they're made and known today -- are generally thought to have come from early 15th-century Italy, where they were first elegant painted creations for the courts of the nobility. Baroque and commedia dell'arte influences were common in the early figures and motifs on the cards.

Early Italian names for the cards include carte da trionfi, or cards of the triumphs. In the early 16th century, they became differentiated from more common playing cards and were called tarocchi, which in French was tarot.

fides quaerens intellectum

[PeacefulWarrior]

Missy Lewis, mother of student:

"It makes you very scared to even step outside your front door. I mean, you don't know where the shootings are going to take place next, and I don't ever remember anything like this happening."

Kevin Walters, father of student:

"As soon as I heard it, I thought 'Oh my God, it's happening here, closer to home.' I was actually in a grocery store getting coffee ... I just kind of ran out of the store."

Kim Estrada, mother of student:

"As soon as I heard on the news I came in -- that it was a 13-year-old boy and my son is 13. And I just rushed. I just had to know. I had to be here, be with him, get inside. Things were organized in there. They took his name and they got him down right away, brought him right to me."

Andrew Kim, student:

"I was feeling nervousness. I was very excited, not like happy exctied, but like shocking excited. But after I found out what happened, I just felt calm and everyone in the classroom was calm about it."

Charles Moose, Montgomery County police chief:

"Someone is so mean spirited that they shot a child. Now, all of our victims have been innocent, have been defenseless. But now we're stepping over the line, because our children don't deserve this."



fides quaerens intellectum

[kakkarot]

i think it's a little coincidental that AFTER the newspaper reported that psychologists figured the guy had a God complex and was "playing" with the police, the very next shooting had a tarot card, a shell casing, and a note the said "Dear police: I am God" on it when all the previous shootings had NO clues left whatsoever.

I think this guy read the newspaper and is now mocking the psychologists. I don't know what his motive is (who does?), but i would have to guess that he just kinda doesn't care about the consequences and is just doing what he feels like doing. have no reason to believe this, but hey, whatever, right?

~kakkarot

Secret of Secrets

[PeacefulWarrior]

Interesting take, and you know what?  It makes sense.

fides quaerens intellectum

[Tom]

What I was told was that God hates tarot cards and sends anyone to hell who tries a divination method. I think that using the death card like that is a waste of a perfectly good tarot deck. There are spreads you can do with just the major arcana, but I have not heard of any with just the minor arcana. It is not the first time I have heard of someone leaving behind the death card with a note. That was a few years ago.

There was someone recently who tried to change their name officially to God. The request was turned down. Parents naming their children God might be allowed to?

What makes this serial killer so special?

[Jacara]

I think the main thing that sets this guy apart is that this guy is killing random people, and quickly.  Normally a serial killer just goes after, say, Jews or prostitutes or whatever.  This guy kills people pumping gas or mowing their lawn, stuff we all do - so we all feel vulnerable.
Plus he seems awfully sharp to be able to avoid leaving much of any trace of himself behind.  Even the Unabomber had a sketch or two of him circulated about, and he was at large for many years.
Anyway, at the pace this guy is killing at, I'm sure he'll be caught soon (and I'm sure he knows it), but not before going out w/ a heck of a bang.  (I'm wondering if he hasn't rigged his van w/ explosives to kill whoever tries to arrest him?)

[Mobius]

Hi all

Maybe this story should have been part of the gun debate thread we enjoyed so much. Another great illustration of why we shouldn't have guns. Especially ones that can kill people in great numbers (semi-autos & autos) or kill people from a distance (snipers rifles) without having to be seen by anyone. As much as they are fun to use (guns) & I have used them as well, it's the people that are going through a crisis of the mind that will ruin things for others & perpetuate the need in peoples minds to arm themselves in possible anticipation of an encounter. In turn perpetuating the ease for someone else to use them in a negative way when they are going through a bad time or tough period themselves.

You can say that if we didn't have guns, people would use other means, but most of the time, that will involve you getting very physical with the other person, potentially bringing about a situation where the killer could get injured or killed or be identified. Guns like these make it so easy to be impersonal about it & not even see or hear what you are doing to someone.

Kakkarot may be right & the killer is just playing with authorities & peoples fears. Then again he might have been watching that Dirt Harry movie about a sniper (scorpius I think the characters name was) who killed people from a tower by snipers rifle. Or another movie called something like "The Tower" or something. A more fitting & possibly accurate card to leave would have been "The Tower card" which truly reflects this persons actions of "anger,strife & ignorance". He obviously never read about tarot cards as he would know that it is what other cards the death card precedes or follows is what matters. On it's own the "death" card is actually a positive card & it's obvious the sniper is taking it as face value.

The "death" card represents the finishing of something, a new beginning, changes, the death of old habits, ways of life & the birth of hopefully more positive thoughts & actions. If the words were written on the card upside down, then it MAY have meant something, but on it's own & like that, illustrates that the sniper is a fairly ignorant sort of person, with a lot of built up angst.

Quoting CNN, CBS, Washington post, New york times, Associated press or Reuters is like being a real life character inside the movie "the matrix" & asking the men in suits what their opinion is about something. They will tell you the information in the way that they want you to see it, not so much the facts. In Australia, here we actually have a comedy show on T.V called "CNNN" which puts a comedic spin on the stories which come out of CNN. CNN is known in places outside the USA as a platform for misinformation & sensationalism.

I don't have anything against americans or america in general, it's not them, it's the same people as here in Australia that I'm against, the upper echelon who manipulates the greater population & politicians too, for their own ends.

Good journeys all, promote peace & understanding.

Mobius

[jilola]

The card in all likelihood is just the killer's way of creating a myth around himself (self-perceived) and of taunting the authorities. He's getting cocky and sure of himself.
The randomness of the killings isn't surprising to me. Some serial killer was bound to go for the chaotic approach. Maybe the act itself is meaningful to him and not any particular victim. Living a delusion?
The way events are unfolding he'll get too clever and nopnchalant of his actions and will get identified (they already have spotted a possilbe car).
Let's just hope no-one else has to die before he get caught.

2cents

jouni

[BDHugh]

Hey all!

That had a similar incident in the same area several years ago back in the 50s I believe. It may be just a copy cat thing. But have you noticed that he is going around D.C.? I think thats because he wouldnt get three blocks had he done it in the D.C. area itself.

[Hephaestus]

I believe there to be more than one sniper and that they are part of a cult making ritual killings. The fact they are taking place in places such as Maryland and Virginia is, well, ya know.

[astralc]

Mobius

what a great comment http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_wink.gif" border=0>, yeah, what about gun control? If you give a guy a gun then you need someone else to have a gun too to make sure that first guy doesn't use it. Now this is typical Rifle Association thinking, a justification for the First Ammendment for everyone to have a gun in their house. http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_evil.gif" border=0>

What I think is that the DC sniper is not just one but several nutters who have jumped on the band wagon. You can just hear their thoughts when they watched TV that first night:

"What a great idea! I think I want to go out and do that too! I want to be on television!"

Then you have the terrorists who want to have a go too, and they get together and plan it properly, as good role models should, for the other nutters. Soon we have snipers all over the state, and country, who all think that this is a grand idea.

Astralc


"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson
www.shoal.net.au/~astralc
"The marriage of the ancient arts of astrology, taoism, tantra and the modern science of psychology."

[Mobius]

Hi Astral

I would like to think there is nothing more to this event than a lunatic that is shooting people & needs to be caught. But suppose it IS something more sinister. When words like that are mentioned people become defensive of the authorities & governments & there is an almost inbuilt need to cringe at the thought of manipulation or the whole thing being a set up. IMO, for all we know, it IS just some idiot on a rampage & there is no need to look further into the case than that. But our history tells us to be aware that the superficial story is not always the correct one.

For one, the guy seems to be either military trained (if there is only one) or a successful competion rifle shooter. To get a kill shot on these people, first shot & no witnesses, seems to lend more to the theory the person could be military, or a special op's guy or swat or something. When no-one has been caught, regarding any horrendous crime, the people begin to get angry with police, further pressuring them & giving rise to the possibility of using a scapegoat/patsy/fall guy to take the blame & take the pressure off.

If I was a shareholder in one of the many gun & armament industries in America (& didn't have a conscience) I would be rubbing my hands in glee at the advertisement of terror & the increase of gun sales to come. The armaments industry is huge & definately in a good position to reap good returns if there is war with Iraq. Or if Americans are panicked into thinking they need to arm up. I'm not against the concept of the share market either, it's just that it's in the interest of armament companies, & the people who supply them (mines, smelters, petrochemicals, metal manufacturers) to have war & have unrest to the point where people need to resort to guns to resolve their differences.

The sniper is shooting random innocents, so seems more focused on creating terror & fear than avenging something done to him, such as killing fellow employees or bosses he had a gripe with. I hope they don't try to pin it on some Muslim, which would readily be accepted. But if it was/is a fundamentalist muslim, why shoot innocent people? What is there to gain from that? Why not political or business targets?

There is a new generation of weapons out that don't require you to be ovely bloody & a consumer of guns. But not available to the public. Weapons like HAARP & EM machines, biological & chemical weapons, that don't require you to be anywhere near your enemy. The only use for guns then is for the people against other people, but not the business elites. I bet there isn't gun,ammunition & liquor stores everywhere in the top 10% earning areas of the USA. Just like here in Australia.

Lets hope some schmuck is found & he is not a scapegoat.

Good journeys all

Mobius

[PeacefulWarrior]

First of all, about the gun thing, you know anyone could do the same thing, minus the long distance aspect of it, with a screw driver or with poison...it all depends on how it's done.  Besides, most guns which are not classified as "assault" weapons or "autos" are indeed hunting rifles which are made for killing from great distances.  Think about how many other individuals own a gun of the same caliber (.223 REM) and are not out sniping people.

Next thing, the shooter is not necessarily someone who has been trained or even competes as a shooter.  The .223 (5.556 x 45mm) travels at about 1800 fps, therefore as long as someone knows how to use it and can hold still, they can hit a target at long range.

Anyway, forget all the minutia and the fact that I am obviously "pro-gun", the main thing is that this individual is sick and needs to be stopped, arrested, tried and then hopefully killed.  Does anyone here live around that area?  Are there any new developments in the case?


fides quaerens intellectum

[Mobius]

Hi PW

Your right, this individual needs to be stopped & he/she IS a very sick individual. I've shot plenty of rifles myself & ones with scopes too & I know I could easily hit someone from a distance with a rifle. But whether it would be a kill shot & only shooting once & scoring 7 out of 9 people from a long distance, is a different matter. He's obviously smart enough to realise that if he fires twice, someone will almost certainly make his position, so he makes the first shot count. He also knows the lay of the land & has probably scoped out these positions to shoot from months ago, to see what the escape route would be like & who would be likely to see him.

I wouldn't be surprised if he wears a maintenance workers uniform, possibly with a tool box too, to go unnoticed to the roof level of a building. As a person from the public or someone wearing office clothes could likely draw attention if they were seen going to the roof or a maintenance level of a building, as he could quite easily shoot through the louvres of a ventilation shaft.

PW, you are right too, that the majority of people with rifles out there are not out sniping people & I don't have anything against farmers or people on land owning them. I just don't see the point if you are a city dweller. And you are right also, that people can kill someone with a screwdriver, or poison, but these things bring with them the chance that the killer could be identified through DNA fingerprinting. All they would need is a bit of hair, saliva, blood or semen & the identity of the killer has been narrowed down significantly. Being able to kill from a distance (with a rifle) & with nothing to be able to identify the killer besides the bullet, leaves a very broad base in which to profile the killer & trying to find scraps of DNA in a 200m radius would be pointless.

Lets hope he trips & shoots himself, cya's.

Mobius

[clandestino]

Hi Folks !

Hopefully the sniper will be caught very soon, it must be terrible at the moment over in DC.

regarding Mobius' last point....

"Being able to kill from a distance (with a rifle) & with nothing to be able to identify the killer besides the bullet, leaves a very broad base in which to profile the killer & trying to find scraps of DNA in a 200m radius would be pointless."

....If rifle and bullett identifiers were introduced (e.g. tag every rifle / bullett with an indelible bar code), then an "audit trail" would be established.

Can anyone explain why the NRA is strongly opposed to such a scheme ?
Mark

[Qui-Gon Jinn]

One highly skilled remote viewer should be set on the task of finding this lost mind...  they´re putting up planes to spot him I heard today, that´ll not result much I´m afraid, but of course actions has to be taken....

 Be well //Rick

- Your focus determines your reality -

[Blossom]

The latest victim was a woman who just recovered from cancer and her and her husband had bought them a house and they went shopping at home depot to buy some things to stock it.  As they were loading the car in front of the store, there was one shot.  It was a head shot.  They 'think' they have a witness..  Hopefully the media is smart enought to keep his identity secret and not let that leak.

This person is an excellent shot..  I hope whoever does the eventual arrest takes him/her alive for questioning and does not get gung-ho.. I think however many policeman will find that hard to do, but I think getting the person alive is important.

My husband's sister works very very close to where this is taking place.  We have been very worried but she works in a pretty protected enviroment so she is probably safe.

I hope they get them/him/her soon.. It's gotten where my husband and are leary of the news every morning now when we turn CNN on.  

Sincerely,
Blossom

[koshka]

Mobius --

Hey, if you guys enjoyed the gun discussion so much, why did you go away?  -- Just kidding.  

Gosh, the inputs seem a lot more tolerant of "conspiritorial" ideas than when I last was able to view the buzz.  I was amazed to hear so many callers getting through on the monopolistic, bottle-necked, Coast-To-Coast overnight radio talk show ( www.artbell.com ) with "shocking" and "disturbing" ideas about government complicity in this latest novelistic horror movie, the "One-Shot-One-Kill" sniper murderer.

Is it possible to manufacture a human "lethal weapon"?  Whether it was done at the sponsorship of the firearms manufacturers, Al Caida, Iraqi Republican Guard (the last two heavily determined by the CIA), or an Hegelian scam to FURTHER the strictures of an ALREADY gun-controlled DC; or maybe just an incredibly frosty and focused, self-made, narcissistic S.O.B. stumbling into the agendas of those entities...it seems really to be cutting into the psyches of many many folks.  The demographic cross-section of victims is remarkable.  The location in the "DC area" where the national government is debating about war with Iraq at this particular time: again, remarkable.  I heard the radio host George Noory comment about the "message" in the victim statistics so far: 9 killed, 2 wounded seriously -- "9-1-1."  This reminds me of the "DC area" murder investigation of Shandra Levi's death last year before September one-one.  There's still no resolution to that crime -- even a scapegoat.  Jean-Benet Ramsey's murder case is still unsolved too.  IF THIS ISN'T PSY-OPS, THEIR TAKING NOTES LIKE CRAZY.

[koshka]

Mobius --

Hey, if you guys enjoyed the gun discussion so much, why did you go away?  -- Just kidding.  

Gosh, the inputs seem a lot more tolerant of "conspiritorial" ideas than when I last was able to view the buzz.  I was amazed to hear so many callers getting through on the monopolistic, bottle-necked, Coast-To-Coast overnight radio talk show ( www.artbell.com ) with "shocking" and "disturbing" ideas about government complicity in this latest novelistic horror movie, the "One-Shot-One-Kill" sniper murderer.

Is it possible to manufacture a human "lethal weapon"?  Whether it was done at the sponsorship of the firearms manufacturers, Al Qaida, Iraqi Republican Guard (the last two heavily determined by the CIA), or an Hegelian scam to FURTHER the strictures of an ALREADY gun-controlled DC; or maybe just an incredibly frosty and focused, self-made, narcissistic S.O.B. stumbling into the agendas of those entities...it seems really to be cutting into the psyches of many many folks.  The demographic cross-section of victims is remarkable.  The location in the "DC area" where the national government is debating about war with Iraq at this particular time: again, remarkable.  I heard the radio host George Noory comment about the "message" in the victim statistics so far: 9 killed, 2 wounded seriously -- "9-1-1."  This reminds me of the "DC area" murder investigation of Shandra Levi's death last year before September one-one.  There's still no resolution to that crime -- even a scapegoat.  Jean-Benet Ramsey's murder case is still unsolved too.  IF THIS ISN'T PSY-OPS, THEIR TAKING NOTES LIKE CRAZY.

[Blossom]

I personally don't think our government or any other government at this time has a human lethal weapon..  and I certainly don't think the CIA has anything to do with killing innocents in this country where I live in such a randomized way..  For what purpose would that serve?  

Radio shows are there and remain in existance for ratings only and keep their ratings high by stirring people up...

I think the only reason the shooter did not have 100% kill is because of the movement of the victims.  

I will be so glad when he messes up and is caught..  My husband just wishes he would stop whether he gets caught or not..  He believes the value of the human life is more important than the punishment of this particular crime.. I personally don't think he is going to stop.  He/she obviously doesn't care about his victims race, age, or sex..  Children are as much at risk as anyone else.  That feels me with absolute dread.  

At times like this, I am so glad I live in a tiny tiny little town in the mountains where all strangers are noticed.  The people still smile at each other when they meet on the street..  Life is simple here and beautiful to wake up to.

One of my biggest fears right now is my 20year old son..  He is joining the military right as we are on the brink of war.  He is a good son and I hope he doesn't choose to be a hero.

Sincerely,
Blossom

 

[koshka]

Blossom --

Good, decent people, raised with love, support, patience, and positive values find evil to be literally incomprehensible -- even invisible.  I recently read People of the Lie by Dr. M. Scott Peck.  This is a book about the nature of human evil.  He wrote in the foreword that his famous first book The Road Less Traveled was a "nice book," but that this book was definitely not a nice book.  Truly evil people are obsessed about always appearing good and harmless -- even colorless and bland -- most importantly to themselves.  Their disguises are perfect -- even preferring "do-gooder" type professions.  It may only be the inexplicable feeling of revulsion that pushes at one's stomach when being approached by them that may give you a tip-off.  But if one worries about perhaps being evil oneself, then one probably is not.  If one never has a doubt about being in the right at all times...well, does one feel that queasy pressure in the stomach?  How does willy Cheney's image, for example, affect one, if at all?  
                                                 *************
THIS JUST IN!!! --
Nevada (and Arizona too I think) are considering a proposition in the up-coming elections to legalize medical marijuana and the private posession of under 3 ounces.  The Feds are furious that these propositions might actually pass.  OK, just last month in Reno a motorcycle policeman was struckt and killed by a hit-and-run driver.  It has just been announced on the news that a young woman has been arrested as the suspected hit-and-run driver.  IT IS STATED THAT SHE WAS APPARENTLY HIGH ON MARIJUANA WHEN SHE COMMITTED THE SLAUGHTER.  The election is just a couple of weeks away.  But our government would never -- do you think? -- no no no no no.

[Blossom]

I guess I have never really known an evil person then..  I don't think I have ever felt that..  Wait, one time along time ago..  I worked in a convenience store for about 3 months on the night shift..  I was about 25 then or so.. But one night two people came in and they had satanic rings on and black robes and were obviously black magic people.  My heart started pounding very rapid and I had trouble breathing..  I felt literly like I was in a daze.  But I continued what I was doing as they paid for their items, but I got the impression that they knew how they were affecting me..  I know the feeling you are speaking of..  It's nearly like a physical thing.  Is this what you mean?  That is the only example I can use of something that felt really really evil to me..  

As far as marijuana:  I personally don't feel anything that changes our perspective of reality should be legalized.  And in the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, that seems really two-faced to me..  They give it for pain they would say, but at the same time, it causes other medical problems..lung problems from the tar which in turn could cause lung cancer and believe it or not, at a much faster rate than cigarettes.  It stays in the brain [without someone feeling high from it] for a long long time.  THC is a dangerous thing.. The memory loss associated with it doesn't come back.  It causes permanent damage.  

But yes, I think our government will eventually legalize it in spite of potential health risks to people..  Why do I think that???  Because they are greedy and it will be a taxable item and make them money.. like cigarettes and like alcohol.. Everyone knows when they smoke or drink that there are viable health results involved in their consumption. I think however in legalizing it minors will continue to use it, just like they drink now and just like they purchase cigrettes..  The only way to rid our society of drugs and alcohol is to quit allowing them to be grown, as in tobacco and shut down the alcohol plants and then have stiffer penalites for it..  It would however cause such a major impact in employment world wide and not just in the us, as these things are big business, that this would never happen..  

It is all about greed....  and that's why marijuana, in my opinion, is next on the list.. for tax money.. It will sit beside cigarettes and alcohol..

Sincerely,
Blossom  

One more thing:  I am not some do-gooder and don't want to give that impression.  I just feel the long term ramifications of legalization outweigh any short term good from doing this for whatever reasons legalization would be justified for.. But the government has it's own value system and live in a world all their own and of their own making..  I just don't understand how they can legalize something AGAIN that is bad for the people when they say they are for the people?

I think real progress is made by taking a step backwards at times .. It gives a broader perspective of any issue.

[koshka]

Wooo, Blossom, I really enjoy your comments -- very refreshing.

The sense of confusion and disorientation in the presence of evil is exactly as Scotty Peck describes it.  His perspective is that evil people are essentially terrified to their depths and react by erecting an all powerful narcissism which must be made to work both on the world of reality AND upon themselves simultaneously.  That seems to beg an external power (diabolical) to modulate that two-way, synchronized deception (lie).  There is no atrocity that an utterly terrified soul may commit that is as terrible as the inner terror that they feel they can never escape.  Peck calls them the sickest of the sick, and really the most pitiable -- probably only accessible with the most determined spirit of love.

I favor people being able to grow their own fruit and turning some of it into wine or cider.  I was a beekeeper as a kid, and among all the products that those wonderful little animals can provide is of course honey, some of  which can be delivered into mead.  Just so hemp, a very evolved plant entity, may be raised to flourish in miriads of ways by the honest gardener and farmer.  George Washinton was the foremost sponsor of disseminating hemp far and wide, and eased his own bones by contemplating the sunset from the porch of Mt. Vernon puffing on a pipe full of "hemp crowns."

Do some investigation into the Bush and "Windsor" families who amassed fortunes in the opium and related drug trades up to the present day.  "Dubya" okayed the re-introduction of poppy farming into Afghanistan to aid their (and his family's) fortunes in the wake of the recent war there.  The D.E.A. is a trade control entity set-up to "bust" the free enterprize "cowboy" enterloper's cutting in on the "company business."

ALL governments have targeted ETOH (ethyl alcohol) for taxation.  George Washington did so and provoked the West Pennsylvania "Whiskey Rebellion" by farmers who deeply objected to the naked greed of the new Continental central government.

Alcohol...tobacco...firearms: it has it's own agency made up largely of thuggish wash-outs from other police entities.  Substances which change moods include all the Earth.  Thoughts and ideas change perspectives and conceptual energy flows.  Hemp tends to support individualistic and libertarian styles of thought, e.g. Victor Hugo...and a great number of the American Founding Fathers, by evidence.  

The Founding Farhers warned us that government easily becomes a narcissistic (evil) beast, and should never be deferred to as a father, mother, or benign guardian.  "It is error alone which needs the support of government.  Truth can stand by itself." -- Thomas Jefferson.

All the discussion about banning this and outlawing that NEVER includes provisos about insuring that the people and resources dubbed "government" will ITSELF be "governed."

Example: nearly EVERYONE now has accepted that the "Gulf of Tonkin" event, which cleared the way for the vast escalation of the American war in Vietnam, was a scam -- a manufactured deceit.  "Government" did that.  A friend died in that war.  Too bad?  What will "government" NOT eventually do?  How long has "The War on Drugs" been in business?  

Now we are witnessing a war on "evil" firearms.  We need to tag, chip, and inventory EVERY gun out there.  But if we trust "daddy" government, why even keep private guns?  Why not save ourselves from all the DC-style snipers, etc. by CONFISCATING and banning all guns (but the Gulf-of-Tonkin-conjuring sick beings' guns, that is).  "Power grows from the barrel of a gun" -- Mao.  If "government" has all the guns, "government" has all the power -- absolute power.  "Power corrupts.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely."  THAT'S what government has to gain from a DC shooter.  Yet if we do not even blink at the idea that elements within governments can indeed contract heinous acts against us, they've already won.

[Spirit Raven]

I hope not to offend or step on any toes, but here goes.
Bar code on guns.......they would be "registered" to whomever bought them. If stolen and used, how to prove it wasn't you? As well as invasion of privacy. I think the whole thing is going way overboard.
Legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes.....have you ever seen someone who is terminally ill and in great pain? First, after a while pain meds stop working and just dull your senses, not the pain, and greater ammounts would result in overdose and death. Second, if a person is terminally ill, they are dying so why are you worried about the state of their lungs and their memory? That seems to me a moot point. I know legalizing it for medicinal purposes would be opening the door for further legalization, but after being around terminally ill people and what they go through, it's worth the risk.
Our government being capable of wrong doing to further it's own ends and agenda......of course it is capable. I do not believe for a minute this war is on "terrorism". Their is too much oil to be had in Iraq. And who do you think put Saddam in power in the first place.....and where do you think the training and supplies for all his weapons (both nuclear and biological) came from? The good ol' USA. I do agree, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. If our president gets everything he is asking for from congress, he will have what our founding fathers warned against. I am sorry, I have just seen too many things over the years to ever trust our government to be for the people anymore. My husband spent quite a few years in the military and was stationed both here and over seas.....you would be surprised at what can be done to make a human killing machine. I do not buy into all the conspiracies though either....I try to think for myself and go by what I have seen and experienced.
I will get off my soapbox now. I hope and pray they find the sniper soon. No matter what their reason for doing this, it is a terrible thing and should be stopped.


Dance to the music of your dreams, enjoy the steps along the way and keep smiling!