I am so freaked about the sniper in Maryland and I don't live anywhere near there. What kind of demented nut can just go kill and wound innocent people? And no one has seen him/her, a car or anything. My Prayers are with the families victims and the police in trying to get this nut off the street ASAP. How does this happen and why? Any comments would be appreciated.

Well, I'm no authority, but if I were to "profile" this person, I'd say white, 18-35 years old, possible military training (he seems to be an expert marksman) and with some sort of God complex.

But what really is the point of speculating on that? There are people hurting out there right now because of this. My thoughts go out to them.

It crossed my mind.....do you think the killer (killers) could be terrorists? I mean Muslem terrorists?

It's always unsettling when someone targets their victims so randomly, especially when children are involved. I'm curious about where the Michael's craft store factor falls into this. It has been at or close to three of these crime scenes.

My husband's company wants us to relocate to Maryland, the Baltimore area. You know the odds are so slim and could happen anywhere, but it does give you pause.

I would profile as a Middle Eastern terrorist. Extensive military training. Specialize in covert ops.

You guys are scared? Ah you shouldn't be. I mean I live in the area (VA) and I have figured out something. If you go around being scared of everything you can't make the right choices in life that are more important. Also, too me it sounds like a 25-35 year old guy, with very good hunting skills. I don't really think it's a terrorist. I think it's some guy trying to get back at society because he wasn't strong enough to take society's pressure.

I had not heard of the Michael's connection with these crimes. I had only heard of the one lady who was in the parking lot of a Michael's. Where did you learn of this, scully?

I'll confirm what scully said regarding Michael's. It was all over Fox today. I don't specifically remember hearing it during the press conferences, althought I may have missed it.

But in any case, Fox was reporting that some of the shootings were in close proximity to Michael's craft stores.

I don't think the person is likely to be or have been a former employee there. If he was, wouldn't he be shooting people there? I think it is just a coincidence.

I don't think that it is a Muslim terrorist. It seems to me like a case of domestic terrorism, if terrorism at all. It's probably some militant, early-to-mid twenties white guy with a good shot and a skewed view on the world.

Mike

My brother lives in the same neighborhood that 4 of the 5 shootings took place, so I'm a bit shaky/paranoid. I don't think that this is a terrorist, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was. This guy really knows his stuff. But just think about it. The terrorists don't need to go knocking buildings down to strike fear into the American public. They could just start doing this sniper business at a larger magnitude, and people would be buying bulletproof vests by the thousands.

Mike
I love the Simpsons quotes! How about this one:
'That's Slick Willie for ya, always with the smooth talk'- Marge

I don't want to think this is a terroist but, these people are being killed or wounded not for money, and they have been doing everyday normal things. Mowing the lawn sitting on a bench the last victim going to school. From what I understand this person is an excellent marksman. So I agree with the theory he might be in the military but terroist is not out of the question to me anymore. I haven't heard anything about the Michael's thing but I really don't think that is an issue. The issue is there is someone out there killing and wounding innocent people in a time that we are just trying to get over the 9-11-01 attack. This person will be found I hope soon and it would be interesting to me if he was a terrioist, a person in the military of just some very disturbered nut case. Tonight I am praying again for all those involved.

I doubt he's a hunter. Hunters usually have a good respect for guns and their proper use.

No, I would be this is some nutcase thrill killing.

I hope the cops don't bother arresting this guy, and wasting tax payer dollars keeping him alive in prison. I hope they just shoot to kill....on sight.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victems and their families.

--cheers

One of the first shots went through a Michael's window, but did not hit anyone. As Mike said, one of the women was killed in the parking lot of a Michael's. Another shooting was in close proximity of another Michael's. I find it odd. It may or may not be a coincidence, but I guarantee they're looking ito a possible connection.

Fox is reporting right now that gunfire has been heard at a gas station in Frederickburg, VA.

Sometimes I think media loves to push this stuff on us too much. I was in college and I heard about it...I turned on my favorite radio station and I had to change it because there was "live coverage" on what happened. Thank but I have a tape recorder if I want to hear it constantly. Even though it seems I am insensitive, I am really not. I do feel for those people and their familes. It's just I get upset with the media.

My take on it is that the sniper or snipers are Iraqi commandos. These guys got away clean, which indicates that they were probably well trained. It if I were to go marching around with a firearm I'd probably been nailed in about ten seconds flat. These guys knew their getaway route they knew exactly what they were doing. The targets are said to be random which is rather curious, since the commandos would want to be a little bit more effective. What they have proven of course is that the Gestapo is totally inept; they havn't been able to get near them. They go on television pounding their chests yelling about how they gonna track them down and yet they don't track them down. The snipers got away clean.

This will cause the anti gun nuts to come out with their patented screams against guns, but I think that just the opposite ought to be the case. I believe people ought to take advantage of second amendment rights and provide themselves with whatever they need to to affect suitable protection .

I heard some speculation today that this could be al-qaida terrorists.

I heard it on the radio, and am not sure who said it. What they said, though, is that 4 of the 9-11 hijackers were living in the DC area, and this could possibly be a remaining member of the same cell.

I also heard today on Hannity's radio show that it couldn't be an al-qaida terrorist because they would be looking to kill more than 1 person a day. But then, someone refuted it with what I would consider to be good logic.

While we all agree that terrorists do kill innocent people, and that that is part of their strategy and tactics, the point can be made that their true priority is to change the way we live.

Terrorists want to change our lifestyles, disrupt our every day activites, and force us to live in fear.

It sure can seem like this is what is happening in DC.

Mike