General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNothing I have seen has indicated to me these people have any
training beyond what someone could teach themselves and implement if generally physically fit. The meat puppets are speculating they are some sort of ninjas.
BlueNoMatterWho
(880 posts)arely staircase
(12,482 posts)have been at the top of their ISIS graduation class.But shooting from multiple positions to cause confusion and from an elevated platform would be intuitive to any human who sat down and thought "how would I shoot the most people in downtown Dallas."
They have done some training. I am just saying one could train onself to do everything they have done with access to a gun range and maybe an old army field manual and relative physical shape. And obviously a high powered rifle with a deadly high ammo capacity.
BlueNoMatterWho
(880 posts)Though I noticed he had zero panic and seemed like he's been under fire before. Also, he was moving while looking through his sight. Typically you don't do that without military type training. Again, could be wrong, just what I observed.
arely staircase
(12,482 posts)looking down sites could be learned from video games. Paintball? Laser tag? The coolness under fire could be from experience or simply the manifestation of a mental illness. But your observations are very good. He even took a few rounds to his back, turned around and killed the cop who shot him. (In his body armor)
BlueNoMatterWho
(880 posts)Moving while looking down a sight usually isn't something you would do in that situation if you haven't done it before. Just my opinion.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)bighart
(1,565 posts)Having lived in a rural area in the Midwest I know a lot of people that could be called gun fanciers and don't know of a single one that has trained like this ever.
I know my personal experience is anecdotal and has no broader application but I am curious what you leads you state that "Gun fanciers train like this all the time."
From what I have seen and read this type of training seems to be a fringe group that is anti-government and as much about anarchy as they are gun fanciers.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)ranges and lethal weapons "instructors" teach that BS to militia wannabes, white wing racist, etc.
So why do you stick up for these type people?
bighart
(1,565 posts)I simply stated my anecdotal observations. I lived in a rural area and as such interacted with hunters and other gun owners on a daily basis and as far as I know none of them ever trained in tactical use of a weapon.
As I stated the only people that I'm aware of that do that kind of thing are the fringe groups and anti-government types.
There was a Christian identity cult compound within an hour of where I lived and I'm sure they trained that way.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Lots of folks train in the proper use of a firearm in "tactical" situations. Many folks learn it from mil-sim sports like paintball or airsoft.
In this case, however, the shooter was ex-Army.
uponit7771
(90,364 posts)... this guy was moved with site viewing like he had much practice if not training
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)It's the discipline and complete lack of panic in a combat situation. He even feinted toward one end of the pillar to come around the rear.
I do agree, however, that the action itself could have been planned in a few hours.
Statistical
(19,264 posts)Multiple gunman, overlapping fields of fire, controlled aimed shots (bang pause bang pause bang...), target identification (only cops), attacking from elevated positions (as a soldier I will tell you responding to an elevated threat in a preselected location is notoriously difficult).
These are far beyond what we see in spree killers. Granted it isn't rocket science and it isn't beyond the ability of most people to learn but the reality is most people (even most gunman) DON'T take the time and effort to learn this.
This was a methodical ambush. The shooters had already planned and probably rehearsed it long before the protest was announced they were just waiting for a trigger and acted when they got it.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)The soundwaves from gunfire bounce off of large surfaces, like buildings and hillsides, in a way that can be very convincing and unsettlingly loud. It can make it seem like people are shooting from a different direction.
I noticed this the first time I was at a firing range. I kept looking over my shoulder because it was unnerving.