General Discussion

sarisataka

(22,969 posts)

15. The snipers I have known were well adjusted

Sun Feb 3, 2013, 06:37 PM

Feb 2013

fairly normal guys. i have known both police and military. They like discussing ammo choices, weather conditions- all the technical stuff. Those who never have had to fire on a person sincerely hope to never have to do it.
Those who have shot, and are willing to talk, uniformly mention two things. One is, as you mentioned, by killing one they are saving many; it is the lesser of two evils. The second is mentioned by another poster. Looking through the scope helps to dehumanize the target. It makes the shooting more of an exercise in mechanics than taking a life.
One man I met before his retirement had been a sniper in Viet Nam. He talked a lot about the necessity of killing in war, it is not something to enjoy and so on. One thing I always remember, when he spoke of hand to hand combat with VC during Tet- "Killing at a distance is really easy. Taking the life of someone up close, where you see his eyes... that is a real mother fucker." We wrapped up soon after that.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

60 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

What type of person does it take to be a sniper?? [View all] kentuck Feb 2013 OP

Well... liberalmuse Feb 2013 #1

One of my nieces just married a Marine sniper who did two tours in Afghanistan. 11 Bravo Feb 2013 #2

Why are we there, again? WinkyDink Feb 2013 #43

That's the idealized version of a sniper. Ian David Feb 2013 #3

As I recall... kentuck Feb 2013 #4

Yep. n/t Ian David Feb 2013 #23

Kubrick thereby explains in a single cinematic scene why a coalition_unwilling Feb 2013 #26

That and the fact they were defending their country from ruthless invaders, who too often RC Feb 2013 #49

Urban warfare is ugly for any army davidn3600 Feb 2013 #57

This is tough, because the natural extension of this is the bomber pilot... hlthe2b Feb 2013 #5

Killing others from a distance. Drones. Our government in general. The Straight Story Feb 2013 #6

One who scores high on Concientiousness and low on Neuroticism and Tender-Mindedness FarCenter Feb 2013 #7

You could apply that to anyone who joins the military and picks up a weapon... cynatnite Feb 2013 #8

+1 n/t X_Digger Feb 2013 #9

many join the military because lack of other options, Jessica Lynch joined as a way to JI7 Feb 2013 #12

I joined for a job so I could support my daughter when she was small. n/t cynatnite Feb 2013 #13

My dad joined because of a deteriorating atmosphere at home. Drunken Irishman Feb 2013 #32

And the difference between us and them is the Berring Sea. TheMadMonk Feb 2013 #55

I can usually -- not always, like My Lai -- accept what someone has to do in military, but promotion Hoyt Feb 2013 #10

I've known a couple, but not well. bluedigger Feb 2013 #11

So now we're hating on our soldiers? NightWatcher Feb 2013 #14

Yes, in several threads obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #21

This isn't a simple sniper. This is someone who publicly touted his coalition_unwilling Feb 2013 #27

Then the OP should have pointed that one case out. Lady Freedom Returns Feb 2013 #28

Oh, FFS, the entire thrust of this thread and of DU today has been coalition_unwilling Feb 2013 #29

Still should have pointed it out. n/t Lady Freedom Returns Feb 2013 #30

a generalization of the military and those who fight and die so others can type bullshit at home NightWatcher Feb 2013 #33

Agreed. It's one thing to be a sniper and simply do one's job and be done with it. kestrel91316 Feb 2013 #37

He also helped disabled soldiers and died doing that. I had never heard of the guy before bluestate10 Feb 2013 #42

The snipers I have known were well adjusted sarisataka Feb 2013 #15

My experience.. Lady Freedom Returns Feb 2013 #16

Poignant. cherokeeprogressive Feb 2013 #38

He is my husband. n/t Lady Freedom Returns Feb 2013 #39

It's the "waking up in a cold sweat" that should give us all pause. WinkyDink Feb 2013 #44

Then as far as I'm concerned, yours is the definitive answer in this thread. cherokeeprogressive Feb 2013 #40

Will do! n/t Lady Freedom Returns Feb 2013 #41

Beautifully written, thank you..Lady Freedom Returns... nenagh Feb 2013 #47

Real easy to write when my my topic is sitting right next to me! Lady Freedom Returns Feb 2013 #50

I think the two of you are inspiring... :) nenagh Feb 2013 #56

Thank you. Lady Freedom Returns Feb 2013 #58

The wording of your question suggests you'd reject answers that disagree with you. (nt) Posteritatis Feb 2013 #17

That was pretty much my conclusion. A question from a poster when that person already bluestate10 Feb 2013 #45

I could not do it libtodeath Feb 2013 #18

You can say that about anyone who joins the military obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #19

They have to be good at math obamanut2012 Feb 2013 #20

Don't blame the sniper, blame the government that ordered him to kill. Cali_Democrat Feb 2013 #22

I think a better question is jazzimov Feb 2013 #24

Calm, focused, methodical, patient and very self-contained. Spider Jerusalem Feb 2013 #25

You mean like this smiling fellow? oneshooter Feb 2013 #60

The most common target of a sniper is Peregrine Feb 2013 #31

A very calm and relaxed one. Deep13 Feb 2013 #34

How many rich people's children become snipers? shcrane71 Feb 2013 #35

This Comes Down To Human Nature In My Opinion Oakenshield Feb 2013 #36

You know what? He was a patriot. bmbmd Feb 2013 #46

War is a terrible thing treestar Feb 2013 #48

Patient. Bosso 63 Feb 2013 #51

My roommate's boyfriend was a sniper XemaSab Feb 2013 #52

The type that is willing to kill other human beings because the bosses tell him to. Tierra_y_Libertad Feb 2013 #53

I don't understand the glorifing a snipper as a hero. He is doing a job that had to southernyankeebelle Feb 2013 #54

One of the most ... AzSweet Feb 2013 #59