Tuesday, September 16, 2008

A Federal Snipe Hunt

Showing a keen interest in marksmanship, obtaining sniper-related books and other training materials, spending time at shooting ranges, modifying vehicles in a nontraditional manner, and purchasing rifles and associated optics may be indicators of potential terrorist planning efforts; however, most of these indicators can be associated with legitimate purposes.
Well, thanks for that last bit.

Thing is, as I read through this report, it is just so...basic, I can't believe anyone in law enforcement doesn't already know this stuff. I guess that's why it's unclassified. If anything, the people who would be most helped by this would be the ones who want tips on what patterns and behaviors the authorities are looking for.

I do wonder about the classified stuff, though--what it talks about that they'd rather we didn't hear...

[Via Peter G]

18 comments:

Kurt '45superman' Hofmann said...

From the FBI paper:

(U//FOUO) This assessment’s definition of sniper or “sniper-style” shootings encompasses long-range, highly accurate, and disciplined shooting with specialized weapons by professionally trained individuals, as well as short and medium range shots with standard off-the-shelf rifles and handguns by untrained personnel.

By that definition, what kind of shooting is not "sniper" shooting? Shotgunning, I suppose, although I'm not sure why it wouldn't be, if short range shots with off-the-shelf handguns by untrained personnel are.

The_Chef said...

... what do they mean my unconventional vehicle modification?

I've seen some rather unconventional street cars.

Is the FBI going to start arresting Ricers?

Concerned American said...

Preparing the ground, ladies and gentlemen - preparing the ground.

Disseminate this kind of info thoroughly enough in the (non-shooting) .gov space, and you have the basis for restrictions on optics in AWB II, along with mag capacity and "scary-looking" features. Matt Bracken uses such a ban as a plot device in his first book, "Enemies Foreign and Domestic".

Anyone looking to get training in F-class or other LR disciplines had best act quickly.

And don't forget your gear purchase list, though as the Feebs point out, ordinary equipment will suffice.

Anonymous said...

What the effin' BI wants is for there to be no civilian Lon Horiuchis, unless they're in complete control of them.

Anonymous said...

They throw enough ****, hoping something sticks.

Homeland?

I use to remember a place called America, she's on life support as we speak...

tom said...

If I ever get one of those unlawful invasions of my fouth amendment rights, I will most definitely be found to be a subversive "thought criminal" just on the content of my bookshelves, most especially my many books on The Founder's Original Views and Writings ;-), likely more so than my books on smithing and machining. ...Hell, my bookmark file in my browser is likely damning enough...

Anonymous said...

It used to be a male rite of passage to mix up improvised explosives and blow up trees, rocks, stumps, crates, whatever, in the woods. Now you're a felon. You have to have a PERMIT for solid-fuel rocket motors for those little science class rockets. Ammonium nitrate fertilizer? People look at you sideways. Sign here.
On another freedom Website they have a column linked. The author says Joe Biden, Obama's running mate, has tried to ban every kind of gun except muzzleloaders. There's our eventual answer to "What next?"
I don't have the discipline to be a true sniper, but I did win our club's military rifle "sniper" match with a carbine I'd never touched before.
Fear not. It won't be like the movies. There'll be disorganization, confusion, accidents, breakdowns, bottlenecks, boredom, mutinies, desertions. Being able to hit at 100 yards will be sufficient a lot of the time.

Anonymous said...

The stuff in italics in the link summary ... sounds like getting the militia well-regulated to me.

Anonymous said...

This is a huge brief saying a whole lotta of nothin'.

I can boil it down to one sentence...

"There are people out there with highly accurate rifles who know how to use them, so you Professionals should recognize that every subject of the Homeland is a potential sniper/terrorist."

Longbow

Kent McManigal said...

So, if I attach an elk rack to my grill, I am a terrorist? Nah. I'd say if you modify a vehicle by attaching a bar of flashing lights on top you are much more likely to be a terrorist.

tom said...

Concerned American:

I've been shooting .223, .223AckImproved, and 5.56mm pistols quite a lot. Mostly weak side one handed lately because I already know how to do strong side well enough.

Am I a "sniper threat" too, possibly more of a "sniper threat", or do I get a "handgun exemption?"

Any comments from the LEOs and DOJ people that read this page regularly? You're welcome to come speak with me about it at the range. I'll be easy to find because they're really really loud.

Stephen said...

"Showing a keen interest in marksmanship, obtaining sniper-related books and other training materials, spending time at shooting ranges, modifying vehicles in a nontraditional manner, and purchasing rifles and associated optics may be indicators of potential terrorist planning efforts"

why would they go after our military????? strange.

;)

Anonymous said...

What in the heck is a traditional manner of modifying vehicles?

Sean said...

I find it funny that the slobs that slipped up on 9/11, and didn't pay for their slovenly behaviour, are putting out such pedestrian info. I'm as much afraid and in awe of them as I am the local school board. There's so much that these future hog foods don't know now, it ain't gonna matter till they start noticing the empty chairs at dinner. I'll bet when things get a bit dicey some day soon, they'll emulate their bastard children at F troop, at Waco, on day one, and take a powder. All they lack are armbands and snappy uniforms. I got their modifications, right here. Know why the heroin seized by the FBI is so potent? Because it's government inspected! This crap is released so the media will have it when the antis' start ratcheting up the volume on gun control, sometime in early Feb.09.

Unknown said...

I shot a perfect score with my Kimber Pro Raptor II for my exposed firearm test. I guess that makes me a sniper with a 1911 out to 50 feet? I have a keen interest in long range shooting, but with .308 at 50cents a round, I just play video games instead....

jon said...

i was making a ghillie suit for halloween, and just because it's challenging and fun.

does that make me a terrorist? what if i was getting ready to join the marines?

i mean the directions are right there on the internet. hundreds of thousands of paintball players worldwide do this. who's gonna pay the FBI to open a file on them all?

jon said...

and, the primary function of a sniper is not shooting. it's lying still. i suppose they'll open files on corpses, next? or dogs, because they're outstanding trackers? this is absolutely ludicrous.

Anonymous said...

One round at a time...